Micelle encapsulation of a combination of therapeutic agents

ABSTRACT

The invention provides active agents, such as paclitaxel, rapamycin, or 17-DMAG, encapsulated by safe poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(lactic acid) (“PEG-b-PLA”) micelles. The compositions provide effective solubilization of drug combinations, such as paclitaxel, rapamycin, and 17-DMAG, as well as others described herein. A significant advantage of PEG-b-PLA as a carrier is that it is less toxic than Cremophor® EL or DMSO, which are used in currently known compositions. Additionally, PEG-b-PLA micelles are easier to handle than DMSO and they do not possess a foul odor, which is a problem with formulations currently in clinical trials. Accordingly, the invention provides stable and biocompatible drug formulations that improve bioavailability without causing toxicity. It was also found that larger doses of individual drugs in micelle formulations can be administered compared to non-micelle formulations.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/777,377, filed Feb. 26, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,529,917, whichapplication is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/543,363, filed Jul. 6, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,383,136, whichapplication is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/890,450, filed Sep. 24, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,236,329, each ofwhich claim priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Nos. 61/375,681, filed Aug. 20, 2010, and 61/245,918, filedSep. 25, 2009, and which applications are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

This invention was made with government support under AI043346 awardedby the National Institutes of Health. The government has certain rightsin the invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As research on cancer progresses, it is increasingly evident that singledrug formulations provide only limited success. Many researcherstherefore aim to develop suitable combination therapies. One of the mostimportant requirements of combination therapy is a simple andefficacious drug delivery system. Many chemotherapeutics currently inuse are poorly water soluble, which significantly complicates the searchfor suitable delivery systems. Combining two or three drugs in aformulation presents additional challenges in clinical practice becauseof compatibility and stability issues. Safer and more effective deliveryof drug combinations relies on the development of biocompatible deliverysystems capable of solubilizing the drug combination without using harshsurfactants or excipients. Stable and biocompatible drug formulationsthat improve bioavailability without causing toxicity are needed in thefield of cancer research.

The PI3K-AKT-TOR pathway is the most deregulated pathway leading tocancer. However, drugs that target TOR have not yet been effective totreat cancer, and the PI3-AKT-TOR pathway has proven more complex thanwas earlier believed. Clinical trials with TOR inhibitors have failedfor several cancers where inhibition of TOR resulted in the unintendedactivation of an oncogenic kinase called AKT.

Accordingly, what is needed is a combination drug therapy regimen thattargets more than one point in the mTOR pathway. Also needed is adelivery vehicle that can solubilize efficacious drug combinations in asafe and effective manner, preferably without the use of pharmaceuticalexcipients that result in complications in treatment.

SUMMARY

The invention provides active agents, such as paclitaxel, docetaxel,17-AAG, rapamycin, or etoposide, or combinations thereof, encapsulatedby safe poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(lactic acid) (“PEG-PLA”)micelles. The encapsulation of the active agents provides effectivesolubilization of the active agents, thereby forming drug deliverysystems. A significant advantage of PEG-PLA as a carrier is that it isless toxic than Cremophor® EL or DMSO, which are used in currently knowncompositions in clinical trials. Additionally, PEG-PLA micelles areeasier to handle than DMSO and they do not possess a foul odor, which isa problem with many current formulations currently in clinical trials.Micelle encapsulation may also reduce the occurrence of side effects(e.g., hepatotoxicity, neutropenia, neuropathy, and the like) offormulations containing active agents by maintaining the agents withinthe micelles until they are delivered to a target area of the body.

The invention provides compositions comprising micelles encapsulatingtwo or three different drugs, wherein the micelles comprisepoly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(lactic acid) (“PEG-PLA”) polymers. Thehydrophobic poly(lactic acid) block of the polymers orient toward theinterior of each micelle, and the hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol)block of the polymers orient toward the exterior of each micelle. Themolecular weight of the poly(ethylene glycol) block can be about 1,000to about 35,000 g/mol and the molecular weight of the poly(lactic acid)block can be about 1,000 to about 15,000 g/mol. The drug loading of themicelles can be about 1 wt. % to about 50 wt. % with respect to the massof the micelles. The two or three drugs can be, for example, any two ormore of paclitaxel, docetaxel, 17-AAG, rapamycin, and etoposide. Themicelle compositions that include combinations of these drugs aresignificantly advantageous because they are able to block the TORpathway at two points, at the AKT and TOR levels, which enables thecombination to effectively shut down the pathway when administered to apatient in need of such treatment.

The composition can be substantially free of ethanol, dimethylsulfoxide, castor oil, and castor oil derivatives. For example, thecomposition can comprise less than about 2 wt. %, less than about 1 wt.%, less than about 0.5 wt. %, or less than about 0.1 wt. %, of ethanol,dimethyl sulfoxide, castor oil, and castor oil derivatives, individuallyor in combination.

The combined drug loading in the micelles can be about 5 wt. % to about50 wt. %, or about 10 wt. % to about 25 wt. %. The ratio of drugs in themicelles, for two drugs, can be about 1:20 to about 20:1 or about 1:10to about 10:1. The ratio of drugs in the micelles, for three drugs, canbe about 20:1:1 to about 1:20:1 to about 1:1:20, or about 10:1:1 toabout 1:10:1 to about 1:1:10, to about 1:1:1. In other words, any one ofthe three drugs may be provided in the composition in a wt. % amount ofabout ten or twenty times that of the drug present in the smallestamount. The third drug component can be provided in an amount equal tothe drug present in the greatest amount, or in an amount equal to thedrug present in the smallest amount, or somewhere in between,specifically including each integer within the aforementioned numericalvalues.

The composition can include an aqueous vehicle, wherein theconcentration of the drugs is about 0.4 mg/mL to about 25 mg/mL, about0.6 mg/mL to about 20 mg/mL, or about 1 mg/mL to about 15 mg/mL, withrespect to the volume of the aqueous vehicle. The encapsulated drugs canhave an aqueous solubility of about 1 mg/mL to about 10 mg/mL whencontacted with an aqueous environment.

In some embodiments, the molecular weight of the poly(ethylene glycol)block can be, for example, about 1,500 to about 14,000 g/mol, and themolecular weight of the poly(lactic acid) block can be about 1,500 toabout 7,000 g/mol. The molecular weight of the poly(ethylene glycol)block can also be about 10,000 to about 14,000 g/mol, and the molecularweight of the poly(lactic acid) block can be about 5,000 to about 7,000g/mol. The average diameter of the micelles can be about 30 nm to about50 nm, or about 32 nm to about 45 nm, or about 35 nm to about 42 nm.

The drug loading in the micelles, for each individual drug, can be about1 wt. % to about 25 wt. %, with respect to the weight of the micelles.The drug loading of each drug can also be about 4 wt. % to about 24 wt.%, or about 5 wt. % to about 20 wt. %, or about 6 wt. % to about 15 wt.%, with respect to the weight of the micelles.

The drugs can be incorporated together into individual PEG-PLA micelles,thereby forming multiple drug micelles (MDM). Alternatively, the drugscan be incorporated individually into PEG-PLA micelles, thereby formingsingle drug micelles (SDM). Single drug micelles that contain differentdrugs can then be combined to provide a single drug micelle drugcombination (SDMDC) composition, and the micelles can be combined in asingle aqueous vehicle to provide a therapeutic drug deliveryformulation.

The invention also provides a composition as described above, whereinthe two or three drugs can be (a) rapamycin and paclitaxel; (b)rapamycin and 17-AAG; (c) paclitaxel and 17-AAG; or (d) paclitaxel,17-AAG, and rapamycin. In various embodiments, the paclitaxel of theaforementioned combinations can be exchanged for docetaxel. Inadditional embodiments, the 17-AAG of the aforementioned combinationscan be exchanged for geldanamycin, 17-DMAG, or other known geldanamycinderivatives (several of which are described herein), and the rapamycincan be exchanged for deforolimus, temsirolimus, everolimus, etoposide orteniposide. Any combination of these drug exchanges can be used in thecompositions described herein. Accordingly, numerous two and three drugcombinations can be prepared as micelle encapsulated drug deliveryformulations. The formulations can be prepared as MDM, SDM, or SDMDCtype compositions. In some embodiments, etoposide and/or another drugrecited herein may be excluded from the micelle formulation.

The invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising acomposition as described herein, and an aqueous carrier, wherein thecomposition is formulated for intravenous or intraperitonealadministration. The aqueous carrier can include, for example, saline oran aqueous carbohydrate solution.

The invention further provides a method of simultaneously administeringtwo or three drugs to a patient that has, or has been diagnosed with, acondition that can be treated by administration of at least one ofrapamycin, paclitaxel, and 17-AAG, or another active agent recitedherein. In another embodiment, the invention provides a method ofsequentially administering two or three drugs to a patient that has, orhas been diagnosed with, a condition that can be treated byadministration of at least one of an active agent recited herein. Forexample, single drug-loaded micelles (SDM) can be prepared and combinedprior to administration to a patient, or the SDM can be sequentiallyadministered to a patient. Such sequential administration allows forsynergistic anticancer activity, such as by administration of paclitaxelbefore 17-AAG, or for tumor priming, whereby the administration of afirst dose can kill tumor cells, reduce tumor cell density, and/or allowfor greater uptake of a second administered dose of SDM (oralternatively two drug MDM or SDMDC).

The methods can include administering an effective amount of acomposition described herein, wherein the condition is thereby treated.In some embodiments, the condition is cancer, for example, breastcancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer,prostate cancer, or leukemia. Each drug in the micelles can beadministered in an amount of, for example, about 1 mg/m² to about 1000mg/m², about 4 mg/m² to about 4000 mg/m², about 100 mg/m² weekly toabout 500 mg/m² weekly, or about 300 mg/m² weekly to about 400 mg/m²weekly.

The invention also provides a method of killing cancer cells orinhibiting the growth of cancer cells comprising contacting the cellswith an effective lethal or inhibitory amount of a composition describedherein. The contacting can be in vivo, or alternatively, the contactingcan be in vitro. The cancer cells can be, for example, human breastcancer cells, human colon cancer cells, human lung cancer cells, humanovarian cancer cells, human pancreatic cancer cells, human prostatecancer cells, or leukemia cells. In one embodiment, the composition isadministered to a patient, followed by disruption of the micelles in theblood stream, which then delivers the drugs to cancer cells to initiatethe contacting.

The invention additionally provides a method of inhibiting Hsp 90comprising contacting Hsp 90 with an effective inhibitory amount of acomposition described herein. Additionally, the invention provides amethod of inhibiting the mTor pathway comprising contacting mTor with aneffective inhibitory amount of a composition described herein, therebyinhibiting the mTor pathway at more than one point. The contacting canbe in vivo, or alternatively, the contacting can be in vitro.

The invention additionally provides a method of increasing the half-lifeof a drug in the blood of a mammal comprising administration of acomposition as described herein to the blood of a mammal, wherein thehalf-life of the drug is increased in comparison to the half-life of thedrug in the blood after administration of the drug with a carrier thatdoes not comprise micelles as described herein.

The invention further provides a composition for the delayed release ofrapamycin, paclitaxel, 17-AAG, or other drug recited herein, comprisinga composition as described herein, wherein less than about 20 wt. % ofthe drugs, less than about 40 wt. % of the drugs, less than about 50 wt.% of the drugs, less than about 60 wt. % of the drugs, less than about70 wt. % of the drugs, less than about 75 wt. % of the drugs, less thanabout 80 wt. % of the drugs, or less than about 90 wt. % of the drugs,are released from the micelles after exposure to an aqueous environmentor to the body fluid of a mammal for 30 minutes, 1 hour, oralternatively, 2 hours.

The invention also provides for the use of the compositions describedherein for use in medical therapy. The medical therapy can be treatingcancer, for example, brain tumors, breast cancer, colon cancer, head andneck cancer, lung cancer, lymphoma, melanoma, neuroblastoma, ovariancancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, or leukemia. The inventionalso provided for the use of a composition as described herein for themanufacture of a medicament to treat such cancers. The medicament caninclude a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, excipient, or carrier.The invention further provides for the use of a composition as describedherein to prepare a medicament for treating cancer in a mammal, such asa human.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings form part of the specification and are includedto further demonstrate certain embodiments or various aspects of theinvention. In some instances, embodiments of the invention can be bestunderstood by referring to the accompanying drawings in combination withthe detailed description presented herein. The description andaccompanying drawings may highlight a certain specific example, or acertain aspect of the invention, however, one skilled in the art willunderstand that portions of the example or aspect may be used incombination with other examples or aspects of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates the aqueous solubility of certain drugs and drugcombinations in SDM and MDM (n=3).

FIG. 2 illustrates turbidity measurements of SDM with PTX, PTX/17-AAGMDM and PTX/ETO/17-AAG MDM (n=3. Mean±SD).

FIG. 3 illustrates in vitro drug release kinetics of (A) SDM containingETO, DCTX or 17-AAG, (B) MDM with PTX/17-AAG, (C) MDM with ETO/17-AAG,(D) MDM with DCTX/17-AAG; and (E) MDM with PTX/ETO/17-AAG; fromPEG-b-PLA micelles (12.5 mM PBS, pH=7.4, 37° C.; (n=4, Mean±SD).

FIG. 4 illustrates in vitro release profiles of the 3-drug combinationpaclitaxel, rapamycin, and 17-AAG (PTX/RAP/17-AAG), solubilized byPEG-b-PLA micelles (12.5 mM PBS, pH=7.4, 37° C.; n=4, Mean±SD).

FIG. 5 illustrates data from the solubilization of paclitaxel,docetaxel, rapamycin, 17-AAG, and 2- or 3-combinations (chemo+17-AAG) byPEG-b-PLA micelles (4.2K:1.9K) in water; n=3, Mean.

FIG. 6 illustrates data from the in vitro release of paclitaxel,docetaxel, rapamcyin or 17-AAG from PEG-b-PLA micelles (12.5 mM PBS,pH=7.4, 37° C.; n=4, Mean±SD).

FIG. 7 illustrates data from the in vitro combination release ofrapamycin and 17-AAG from PEG-b-PLA micelles (12.5 mM PBS, pH=7.4, 37°C.; (n=4, Mean±SD).

FIG. 8 illustrates data from the in vitro combination release ofrapamycin, docetaxel & 17-AAG from PEG-b-PLA micelles (12.5 mM PBS,pH=7.4, 37° C.); (n=4, Mean±SD).

FIG. 9 illustrates half life parameters (A) for in vitro rapamycinrelease; and (B) for in vitro 17-AAG release, from PEG-b-PLA micelles(single agent, 2- or 3-drug combinations).

FIG. 10 illustrates in vitro free drug cytotoxicity results ofrapamycin, docetaxel, 17-AAG, and various combinations thereof, againstthe MCF-7 breast cancer cell line using a resazurin assay.

FIG. 11 illustrates in vitro free drug cytotoxicity results ofrapamycin, paclitaxel, 17-AAG, and various combinations thereof, againstthe SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cell line using a resazurin assay.

FIG. 12 illustrates a schematic representation of a method for preparingmicelles and solubilizing hydrophobic drugs, according to an embodimentof the disclosure.

FIG. 13 illustrates IC₅₀ data for MCF-7 breast cancer cells, accordingto an embodiment.

FIG. 14 illustrates combination index (CI) of 2- or 3-drug combinationsof FIG. 13 calculated based on Chou and Talalay method.

FIG. 15 illustrates IC₅₀ data for 4T1 breast cancer cells, according toan embodiment.

FIG. 16 illustrates combination index (CI) of 2- or 3-drug combinationsof FIG. 15 calculated based on Chou and Talalay method.

FIG. 17 illustrates IC₅₀ data for A549 non-small cell lung cancer cells,according to an embodiment.

FIG. 18 illustrates combination index (CI) of 2- or 3-drug combinationsof FIG. 17 calculated based on Chou and Talalay method.

FIG. 19 illustrates IC₅₀ data for LS180 colon cancer cells, according toan embodiment.

FIG. 20 illustrates combination index (CI) of 2- or 3-drug combinationsof FIG. 19 calculated based on Chou and Talalay method.

FIG. 21 illustrates the results of acute toxicity experiments (FVBfemale albino mice).

FIG. 22 illustrates the anti-tumor efficacy of a 3 drug combination ofpaclitaxel, 17-AAG, and rapamycin (60:60:30 mg/kg) vs. PTX single drugloaded micelles (60 mg/kg), in an A549 murine tumor model, with salineand a micelle vehicle alone used as controls.

FIG. 23 illustrates in vitro free drug cytotoxicity results ofrapamycin, paclitaxel, 17-AAG, and various combinations thereof, againstthe MCF-7 breast cancer cell line using a resazurin assay.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Heat Shock Protein 90 (Hsp90) is an important target for cancer therapydue to its key role in regulating proteins that are involved in tumorcell proliferation. It was discovered that geldanamycin, a benzoquinoneansamycin antibiotic, can strongly bind to the ATP/ADP binding pocket ofHsp90, interfering with the survival and growth of a diverse family oftumors. Geldanamycin is a promising new anticancer agent, but itsclinical development has been hampered by severe hepatotoxicity and poorsolubility. Two analogues, 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin(17-AAG; tanespimycin) and17-dimethylamino-ethylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-DMAG), weredeveloped to help alleviate some of these issues.

Several promising leads for clinical translation have been directed todevelopment of 17-DMAG as the more pharmaceutically practicalformulation because 17-DMAG possesses superior aqueous solubility andgreater oral bioavailability compared to 17-AAG. However, despite itsapparent advantages over 17-AAG, 17-DMAG is characterized by a largevolume of distribution when administered to animals. This widedistribution could lead to undesired toxicity because the maximumtolerated dose of 17-DMAG is significantly less than that of 17-AAG (8mg/m²/day and 100-200 mg/m²/day in dogs, respectively).

The major obstacle for delivery of 17-AAG is its limited aqueoussolubility (about 0.1 mg/mL). This limited solubility has resulted inthe use of complicated formulations with excipients such as Cremophor®EL (CrEL), DMSO, and/or ethanol before parenteral administration. Thisis undesirable from a patient tolerability standpoint because CrEL isknown to induce hypersensitivity reactions and anaphylaxis, and requirespatient treatment with antihistamines and steroids beforeadministration. Accordingly, safer and more effective delivery of 17-AAGrelies on the development of biocompatible delivery systems capable ofsolubilizing the drug without the use of harsh surfactants.

Combination drug therapy is becoming an important method in thetreatment of cancer. Researchers are interested in the combination ofchemotherapy and signal transduction inhibitors, as well as thecombination of different signal transduction inhibitors. In murine tumormodels and in early clinical trials, paclitaxel (chemotherapy) has beenshown to act synergistically with rapamycin, a signal transductioninhibitor. In such models, paclitaxel also acts synergistically with17-AAG, another signal transduction inhibitor. Additionally, rapamycinand 17-AAG can act in a synergistic manner for breast cancer cells,presumably due to inhibition of mTOR by rapamycin and inhibition of AKTby 17-AAG. This central mechanism of dual drug action is of interestbecause of clinical experience with rapamycin and its analogues for thetreatment of cancer, where AKT activation by a feedback mechanismappears to be a major cause of treatment failure in mTOR inhibition.

Each of paclitaxel, rapamycin, and 17-AAG are poorly water-soluble,requiring specialized vehicles for drug solubilization, administration,and delivery. The polymeric micelles described herein, prepared from thebiocompatible poly(ethyleneglycol)-block-poly(lactic acid) (PEG-b-PLA)can dramatically increase the water solubility of paclitaxel, rapamycin,and 17-AAG together in the same nano-sized aqueous vehicle (e.g., aPEG-b-PLA micelle). This nano-formulation offers a new approach for thedelivery of a triple drug combination of paclitaxel, rapamycin, and17-AAG for the treatment of cancer.

Preparation of the formulations can be carried out on a large scale. Theformulation provides ease of sterilization due to the small size (˜40nm) of the micelles, ease of drug administration as an aqueous vehicle,low toxicity due to the proven safety of PEG-block-poly(lactic acid),avoidance of noxious vehicles that are required in the clinic for theindividual drugs, and unprecedented synergistic anti-tumor efficacy,realized for the first time for a three-drug combination, e.g.,paclitaxel, 17-AAG and rapamycin.

Accordingly, one, two, and three drug combination formulation ofrapamycin, paclitaxel and 17-AAG are disclosed herein, wherein the drugsare encapsulated within micelles, and the micelles can be administeredconcurrently or sequentially. In some embodiments, all three drugs canbe loaded at substantially the same level in combination with micellesin the same manner as they can be loaded in a single drug micelleformulation. These micelles were stable and remained soluble for morethan 24 hours at room temperature (˜23° C.), and they showed suitablecytotoxicity against cancer cell lines, such as the MCF-7 a breastcancer cell line and the SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cell line.

DEFINITIONS

As used herein, certain terms have the following meanings. All otherterms and phrases used in this specification have their ordinarymeanings as one of skill in the art would understand. Such ordinarymeanings may be obtained by reference to technical dictionaries, such asHawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary 14^(th) Edition, by R. J. Lewis,John Wiley & Sons, New York, N.Y., 2001.

References in the specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”,“an example embodiment”, etc., indicate that the embodiment describedmay include a particular aspect, feature, structure, moiety, orcharacteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes thataspect, feature, structure, moiety, or characteristic. Moreover, suchphrases may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodimentreferred to in other portions of the specification. Further, when aparticular aspect, feature, structure, moiety, or characteristic isdescribed in connection with an embodiment, it is within the knowledgeof one skilled in the art to affect such aspect, feature, structure,moiety, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments, whetheror not explicitly described.

The term “and/or” means any one of the items, any combination of theitems, or all of the items with which this term is associated.

The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural reference unlessthe context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a referenceto “a compound” includes a plurality of such compounds, so that acompound X includes a plurality of compounds X. It is further noted thatthe claims may be drafted to exclude any optional element. As such, thisstatement is intended to serve as antecedent basis for use of suchexclusive terminology as “solely,” “only,” and the like in connectionwith the recitation of claim elements, or use of a “negative”limitation.

The term “about” can refer to a variation of ±5%, ±10%, ±20%, or ±25% ofthe value specified. For example, “about 50” percent can in someembodiments carry a variation from 45 to 55 percent. For integer ranges,the term “about” can include one or two integers greater than and/orless than a recited integer. Unless indicated otherwise herein, the term“about” is intended to include values, e.g., weight percents, proximateto the recited range that are equivalent in terms of the functionalityof the individual ingredient, the composition, or the embodiment. Inaddition, unless indicated otherwise herein, a recited range (e.g.,weight percents or carbon groups) includes each specific value, integer,decimal, or identity within the range.

The phrase “one or more” is readily understood by one of skill in theart, particularly when read in context of its usage. For example, one ormore substituents on a phenyl ring refers to one to five, or one to upto four, for example if the phenyl ring is disubstituted.

The term “contacting” refers to the act of touching, making contact, orof bringing to immediate or close proximity, including at the cellularor molecular level, for example, to bring about a physiologicalreaction, a chemical reaction, or a physical change, e.g., in asolution, in a reaction mixture, in vitro, or in vivo.

Provisos may apply to any of the disclosed categories or embodimentswherein any one or more of the other above disclosed embodiments orspecies may be excluded from certain categories, compositions, orembodiments.

Active Agents/Drugs for Polymeric Micelles.

Rapamycin, also known as sirolimus, is an immunosuppressant drug and aknown mTor inhibitor. The mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) drives cellular growthby controlling various processes that control protein synthesis andangiogenesis. Upstream signaling pathways of mTORC1 include thephosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K/Akt) pathway, which is frequentlydysregulated in many cancers. For example, 60-70% of lung cancers havePI3K/Akt/mTORC1 pathway activation. Inhibition of mTORC1 represents avery attractive anti-tumor target, either as a mono-therapy or incombination with chemo-therapy or other strategies targeting otherpathways.

Rapamycin derivatives that may be exchanged with rapamycin in theformulations herein include deforolimus, temsirolimus, everolimus, andCCI-779.

Paclitaxel is a known chemotherapeutic agent, the structure of which isillustrated below.

Paclitaxel derivatives that may be exchanged with paclitaxel in theformulations herein include docetaxel and other known paclitaxelderivatives.

Geldanamycin is a well-known natural product, obtainable by culturingthe producing organism, Streptomyces hygroscopicus var. geldanus NRRL3602. The compound 17-AAG is made semi-synthetically from geldanamycin,by reaction of geldanamycin with allylamine, as described in U.S. Pat.No. 4,261,989 (Sasaki et al.), the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

Geldanamycin binds strongly to the ATP/ADP binding pocket of Hsp90, thusinterfering with the survival and proliferation of a diverse family oftumors, including HER-2/erbB-2 overexpressing, paclitaxel resistantbreast cancers. Clinical development of geldanamycin has been hamperedby its poor solubility and severe hepatotoxicity (Ge et al., J. Med.Chem. 49(15) (2006) 4606-4615). Thus, a significant obstacle in thepreparation of pharmaceutical formulations containing geldanamycin, orits derivatives such 17-allylamino-17-demethoxy-geldanamycin (17-AAG,below), is the very poor water solubility of these lipophilic drugs.

Suitable water solubility is of particular importance for parenteraladministration. The water solubility of 17-AAG is only about 0.1 mg/mLat neutral pH, making it difficult to administer in a safe and effectivemanner. Attempts have been made to address the solubility issue but eachformulation was accompanied by its own drawbacks, such as the use ofDMSO, ethanol, or various undesirable surfactants.

The compound 17-AAG (17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin, ortanespimycin) is a promising heat shock protein 90 inhibitor currentlyundergoing clinical trials for the treatment of cancer. Despite itsselective mechanism of action on cancer cells, 17-AAG faces challengingissues due to its poor aqueous solubility. Current 17-AAG compositionsrequire formulation with Cremophor® EL (CrEL), DMSO, and/or ethanol. SeeU.S. Application Publication No. 2005/0256097 (Zhong et al.).

Cremophor® EL is a castor oil derivative, typically prepared by reacting35 moles of ethylene oxide with each mole of castor oil to provide apolyethoxylated castor oil (CAS number 61791-12-6). The use ofCremophor® EL (e.g. KOS-953) or DMSO for parenteral formulations isundesirable from a patient tolerability standpoint due to its potentialside effects. Various adverse effects can include acute hypersensitivityreactions, peripheral neurotoxicity, hyperlipidaemia, and/or inhibitionof P-glycoprotein. Furthermore, 17-AAG has a high volume of distribution(Vd) and considerable systemic toxicity at low doses (less than 20mg/kg). Accordingly, improved formulations are needed to safelyadminister anticancer drugs, such as the combination of 17-AAG,paclitaxel, and rapamycin, to patients in need of such treatment.

The disclosure herein provides a CrEL-free single, dual and triple drugformulations, prepared using amphiphilic diblock micelles composed ofpoly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(D,L-lactic acid) (PEG-b-PLA). Dynamic lightscattering (DLS) revealed PEG-PLA (12:6 kDa) micelles with averagediameters of about 257 nm in some embodiments, with critical micelleconcentration of about 350 nM. The micelles can solubilize significantquantities of certain active agents, for example, about 1.5 mg/mL of17-AAG. The area under the curve (AUC) of PEG-PLA micelles was 1.3-foldthat of the standard formulation. Renal clearance (CL_(renal)) increasedand hepatic clearance (CL_(hepatic)) decreased with use of the micelleformulation, as compared to the standard vehicle that employs CrEL.Accordingly, the micelle formulations described herein provide deliveryvehicles for one-, two- and three-drug formulations that have severaladvantages over currently known compositions.

Polymers Used for Micelle Preparation.

The terms PEG-PLA or PEG-b-PLA refers to poly(ethyleneoxide)-block-poly(lactic acid). The poly(lactic acid) block can include(D-lactic acid), (L-lactic acid), (D,L-lactic acid), or combinationsthereof. Various forms of PEG-PLA are available commercially, such asfrom Polymer Source, Inc., Montreal, Quebec, or they can be preparedaccording to methods well known to those of skill in the art. Themolecular weight of the poly(ethylene glycol) block can be about 1,000to about 35,000 g/mol, or any increment of about 500 g/mol within saidrange. Suitable blocks of the poly(lactic acid) can have molecularweights of about 1,000 to about 15,000 g/mol, or any increment of about500 g/mol within said range. The PEG block can terminate in an alkylgroup, such as a methyl group (e.g., a methoxy ether) or any suitableprotecting, capping, or blocking group.

The micelles of this disclosure can be prepared using PEG-PLA polymersof a variety of block sizes (e.g., a block size within a range describedabove) and in a variety of ratios (e.g., PEG:PLA of about 1:10 to about10:1, or any integer ratio within said range). For example, molecularweights (M_(n)) of the PEG-PLA polymers can include, but are not limitedto, 2K-2K, 3K-5K, 5K-3K, 5K-6K, 6K-5K, 6K-6K, 8K-4K, 4K-8K, 12K-3K,3K-12K, 12K-6K, and/or 6K-12K (PEG-PLA, respectively). Thedrug-to-polymer ratio can also be about 1:20 to about 10:1, or anyinteger ratio within said range. Specific examples of suitabledrug-polymer ratios include, but are not limited to, about 1:2.5; about1:5; about 1:7.5; and/or about 1:10.

One suitable polymer is a PEG-PLA that includes blocks of about 1-3 kDa(e.g., about 2K Daltons) at an approximate 50:50 ratio. Use of thisprocedure resulted in unexpectedly high levels of drug loading in themicelles. For example, when Preparatory Procedure B (described below)was employed, drug loading of about 5 mg/mL of 17-AAG was achieved(about 9 mM; about 17 wt. %). Further specific examples of PEG-PLAmolecular weights include 4.2K-b-1.9K; 5K-b-10K; 12K-b-6K; 2K-b-1.8K,and those described in the Examples below. Other suitable amphiphilicblock copolymers that may be used are described in U.S. Pat. No.4,745,160 (Churchill et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,805 (Kim et al.).

Methods of Preparing PEG-PLA Micelles.

Polymer Selection.

While many amphiphilic block copolymers form micelles and canencapsulate certain types of cargo, there is currently no standard fordetermining which polymers are best suited for encapsulating varioustypes of materials. These determinations must still be made empirically.Several polymers that form micelles with drugs were surveyed forsolubilizing a paclitaxel-rapamycin-17-AAG drug combination. Thecombination proved difficult to solubilize without a correct set ofmicellar properties. For example, the PEG-PPG-PEG triblock polymerPoloxamer F68 is useful to solubilize many hydrophobic compounds such asresveratrol, a hydrophobic organic compound with reported anticanceractivity. Poloxamer F68, however, was unable to solubilize either of17-AAG or the paclitaxel-rapamycin-17-AAG drug combination becausestable micelles did not form in aqueous solutions.

Conversely, PEG-b-PLA does not form stable micelles when combined withresveratrol, but does form very stable micelles with both 17-AAG and thepaclitaxel-rapamycin-17-AAG drug combination. The tri-drug loadedPEG-b-PLA micelles also display remarkable properties by solubilizingthe drugs in a nearly additive fashion. Thus suitable polymers forsolubilizing each drug and drug combination must be determinedempirically because no reliable predictive trends exist at this time.

Micelle Preparation.

Amphiphilic single chains of amphiphilic polymers present in a solventin an amount above the critical micelle concentration (CMC) aggregateinto a micelle, a core-coronal structure with a hydrophobic interior,and hydrophilic exterior or shell. Proton NMR spectroscopic studies ofdrug loaded PEG-b-PLA micelles indicate that while the micelles readilyform in aqueous environments, they decompose in organic solvents such asDMSO. These studies also demonstrate that the drug is located at thecore of the micelle and not near the corona.

PEG-b-PLA micelles can be prepared as described below in this section,as well as below in the Examples. For example, Preparatory Procedure Bprovides one specific method for preparing a paclitaxel, rapamycin, and17-AAG micelle formulation. This procedure is merely illustrative forone embodiment. It can be varied according to the desired scale ofpreparation, as would be readily recognized by one skilled in the art.One advantage of Preparatory Procedures A and B is that they do notrequire dialysis of a micelle solution, as in Procedure C.

Preparatory Procedure A:

Simple Equilibrium. In one embodiment, micelle preparation can becarried out as follows. PEG-b-PLA and one, two or three anticancer drugsof interest are dissolved in a suitable water miscible solvent, such asacetonitrile or dimethylacetamide, with optional mixing and/orsonication. The solvent is then removed, for example under reducedpressure to provide a polymer-drug thin film. Warm water (approximately50° C. to about 70° C.) is added to the polymer-drug film and themixture is allowed to cool. The drug encapsulating polymeric micellesform upon addition of warm water and then can be isolated, for example,by filtration. See FIG. 12.

Preparatory Procedure B:

Simple Equilibrium. In a specific embodiment, 25 mg of PEG-b-PLA, and 10mg each of paclitaxel, rapamycin, and 17-AAG are dissolved in 2.5-5 mLof acetonitrile. The mixture is mixed and sonicated for five minutes.The solvent is then removed by rotoevaporation at approximately 60° C.to provide a film. Hot (˜60° C.) deionized water is added to the oil andthe solution is allowed to cool to ˜23° C. The solution is thencentrifuged to remove the sediment in a 1.5 mL microtube, at ˜13,200 rpmfor 1 minute. The supernatant is collected and filtered through a 0.2 mPTFE filter. The isolated micelles can then be stored for extendedperiods of time at 4° C.

Preparatory Procedure C:

Dialysis. In another embodiment, the micelles can be loaded and formedby the following dialysis procedure. PEG-b-PLA and two or three drugs ofthe desired ratio (e.g., varying from 1:1:20 to 1:20:1 to 20:1:1) aredissolved in a water miscible solvent, such as dimethylacetamide. Themixture is then added to an aqueous solution, such as a 0.9% saline, ina 3500 MWCO tubing (Spectra/Por®) dialysis bag, whereupon the micellesform, incorporating the drugs. The micelle mixture can then becentrifuged (e.g., at ˜16,000 rpm for 5 minutes) to precipitate anyunincorporated drug. The supernatant can then nanofiltered, and analysiscan be carried out using HPLC, such as with UV and RI detection modes(see the techniques described by Yasugi et al., J. Control. Release,1999, 62, 99-100).

Preparatory methods can also include the use of oil-in-water emulsions,solution casting, and/or freeze-drying (lyophilization), as describedbelow in Example 3. Other procedures that can be used include thosedescribed by Gaucher et al., J. Controlled Release, 109 (2005) 169-188.

Once prepared, the micelle-drug composition can be stored for extendedperiods of time under refrigeration, preferably at a temperature belowabout 5° C. Temperatures between about −20° C. and about 4° C. have beenfound to be suitable conditions for storage of most micelle-drugcompositions. Use of brown glass vials or other opaque containers toprotect the micelle-drug composition from light can further extendeffective lifetimes of the compositions. The micelle-drug compositionscan also be freeze-dried into a solid formulation, which can then bereconstituted with an aqueous vehicle prior to administration.

Drug Combinations in PEG-PLA Micelles.

Paclitaxel, 17-AAG, and rapamycin currently require separate formulationin existing vehicles because they all are poorly water-soluble. Thesecurrent drug vehicles also have to be infused separately into patientsvia sequential drug administration in a single catheter line, increasingtime of administration, or via concurrent drug administration inmultiple catheter lines, raising risks of infection and adverse druginteractions. The existing vehicles for drug solubilization are alsooften toxic, e.g. they include CrEL. The toxicity risks escalate forthree-drug cocktails, such as for the combination of paclitaxel, 17-AAG,and rapamycin.

In WO 2009/009067, Kwon et al. describe solubilizing 17-AAG, as well as17-AAG and paclitaxel, in PEG-b-PLA micelles. Kwon and coworkers havealso described PEG-b-PLA micelles carrying a three drug combination thatincludes 17-AAG, paclitaxel, and etoposide (J. Control Release (2009 May3)). Paclitaxel-rapamycin and paclitaxel-17-AAG combinations have beenshown by others to act synergistically. A three-way therapy with a TORinhibitor, herceptin, and paclitaxel, has also been described. However,these studies were done with separately administered drugs.

Described herein is a single combined formulation that differs fromthese previous studies because of its safe, effective, non-toxic, andstable delivery system. An approach with sequentially administeredmicelle drug-encapsulated formulations can now provide similaradvantages. In one embodiment, the invention provides a single non-toxicformulation carrying multiple anti-cancer drugs. Such formulations aresignificant improvements over currently used formulations that use toxicexcipients such as Cremophor EL, DMSO, and ethanol. The toxicity ofexcipients becomes even more critical when two- and three-drug cocktailsare being administered to a patent.

Drug solubilization in micelles has not been reduced to a standardpractice. Researchers have not been able to develop broadly acceptedprocedures for determining whether a drug could be solubilized, to whatextent, and whether a drug-micelle combination will be stable. Theresults must be determined empirically. The ability to solubilizemultiple drugs in a predictable manner has also escaped the grasp ofmodern researchers. It is therefore remarkable that the multiple drugmicelles described herein load as well as single drug micelles.

Various drugs and drug combinations described herein can be encapsulatedwithin PEG-PLA micelles. An effective amount of the encapsulated drugscan be administered to a patient, for example, to treat cancer. In someembodiments, the drug combinations include any two or three of rapamycinand paclitaxel; or rapamycin, paclitaxel, and 17-AAG, or suitablederivatives thereof, as well as etoposide or teniposide, or other activeagents recited herein. For example, in certain embodiments, thepaclitaxel can be replaced by an equivalent amount of docetaxel. In someembodiments, rapamycin can be replaced by an equivalent amount ofdeforolimus, temsirolimus, or everolimus, or alternatively, etoposide orteniposide. Likewise, 17-AAG can be replaced by an equivalent amount of17-DMAG, geldanamycin, or a derivative thereof (see U.S. Pat. No.4,261,989 (Sasaki et al.), which is incorporated by reference).

In one embodiment, the invention provides PEG-b-PLA micelles filled withpaclitaxel and rapamycin. In another embodiment, the invention providesPEG-b-PLA micelles filled with 17-AAG and rapamycin. In a furtherembodiment, the invention provides PEG-b-PLA micelles filled withpaclitaxel, 17-AAG, and rapamycin. When administered, the micelleformulations of paclitaxel and rapamycin exert synergistic anti-canceractivity, the micelle formulations of 17-AAG and rapamycin exertsynergistic anti-cancer activity, and micelle formulations ofpaclitaxel, 17-AAG, and rapamycin can also exert synergistic anti-canceractivity. Because of their ability to inhibit the mTor pathway at morethan one point, each of the drug combination micelle formulationsdescribed herein are believed to provide synergistic activity fortreating or inhibiting cancer.

Accordingly, several specific two-drug combinations that can beadministered using the PEG-PLA micelles include but are not limited to:paclitaxel and 17-AAG; docetaxel and 17-AAG; etoposide and 17-AAG;paclitaxel and rapamycin; 17-AAG and rapamycin; and docetaxel andrapamycin. Specific three-drug combinations that can be administeredusing the PEG-PLA micelles include but are not limited to: paclitaxel,17-AAG, and rapamycin; docetaxel, 17-AAG, and rapamycin; and paclitaxel,etoposide, and 17-AAG. Each of the drugs can also be substituted withother drugs recited herein.

Advantages of the Drugs in PEG-PLA Micelles.

The multidrug compositions provide significant advantages to othertreatments because lower amounts of one drug can be administered withequivalent or enhanced effect (e.g., see FIGS. 10-11, 13-20, and 23),while also inhibiting other points of enzyme pathways of targetedenzymes. The drug combination formulations can be provided by preparingeither simply mixed micelle formulations (wherein each single micellecontains only one type of active agent, and micelles containingdifferent active agents are combined in one formulation) orco-encapsulated micelle formulations (wherein a micelle contains two orthree different active agents).

The combination of paclitaxel, 17-AAG, and rapamycin can havesynergistic anticancer activity. For example, synergy can be achievedwhen 17-AAG is administered in combination with paclitaxel, docetaxel,rapamycin, etoposide, or known derivatives thereof. See FIGS. 13-20 andthe Examples below.

It was unexpectedly found that the dual-agent micelles could be preparedsuch that the total drug loading was more than the maximum loading thatwas obtainable for single-agent micelles. Additionally, this ‘additive’effect with respect to drug loading does not result in substantialchanges in the resulting diameter of the micelles (see Table 3-1).Multidrug micelles encapsulating three different drugs were also foundto follow this additive loading effect, with little or no change in theaverage micelle diameter, as determined by dynamic light scattering(DLS) techniques. Remarkably, the average micelle diameter of micellesthat encapsulated the combination of paclitaxel, etoposide, and 17-AAGwas actually smaller than the average diameter of micelles loaded withonly paclitaxel or only 17-AAG. In other embodiments, multidrug micellescan be prepared such that the drug loading is within about 20% of themaximum loading that was obtainable for single-agent micelles, up toabout 120% of the maximum loading that was obtainable for single-agentmicelles (e.g., with respect to the smallest mass of loaded drug).

It was also found that PEG-b-PLA micelles that contain two or moreactive agents (e.g., 17-AAG and a second agent as described herein) intheir cores are more stable with respect to the loss of one of theactives. Thus in micelles containing two active agents, the actives caninteract in such a manner as to increase the stability of the micelle,with respect to release of the actives. For example, micelles thatcontain 17-AAG and a second active agent, such as paclitaxel, docetaxel,rapamycin, or etoposide, were found to be more stable than micelles thatincorporate only one of the active agents.

In clinical trials, the combination of 17-AAG and paclitaxel requiresDMSO and Cremophor® EL, a four component cocktail, for sufficientdelivery. The components of such formulations have been found causesignificant adverse side-effects in some patients and the two drugscannot be mixed and infused together. Also, CrEL and Tween 80 can causehypersensitivity reactions, peripheral neurotoxicity, inhibition ofP-glycoprotein, undesirable pharmacokinetic interactions, and providepoor tumor localization (Tije et al., Clin. Pharmacokinet. 42 (2003),665; Strickley, Pharm. Res. 21 (2004), 201). The drug synergy ismaximized by concurrent drug administration, but sequentialadministration can also work synergistically (Solit et al., Cancer Res.,2003; 63:2139-2144). Genexol-PM is currently in phase II clinicaltrials, therefore paclitaxel/PEG-PLA can be safely administered topatients. An advantage of the compositions described herein is that17-AAG can be co-loaded into paclitaxel-containing PEG-PLA micelleswithout requiring a significant increase in the number of the micellesor mass of PEG-PLA polymer. Such formulations can therefore avoid theuse of organic solvents or other surfactants when treating patients.

Various conditions can thus be treated using the amphiphilic blockcopolymer (ABC) micelle systems described herein. Drug synergy can beachieved by use of the micelles, which can reduce the toxicity of atreatment regimen due to drug encapsulation within the micelle deliveryvehicles. Combinations of active agents can be used in the individualmicelles, or in collections of micelles each having a single type ofdrug in them. Simply mixed and co-encapsulated formulations allow forthe administration of two different active agents with oneadministration, e.g., an IV infusion. Certain useful combinations andtechniques are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,221,562 (Rosen et al.). Inother embodiments, SDM can be administered sequentially to provide thebenefits of drug combination therapy.

The micelle compositions described herein provide for highly effectiveformulations that have unexpectedly high loading capacity for the drugsand drug combinations, and the formulations can be used as controlledrelease drug delivery systems. It was discovered that the drug loadingdual-active micelles can approach, or be equal to, the drug loadingcapacity of single agent micelles. Additionally, interaction between theactives in the dual-active micelles can increase the stability of suchmicelles. For example, 17-AAG can act as a stabilizer for dual agentmicelle formulations, with respect to both simply mixed formulations andalso co-encapsulated formulations.

Drug Formulations of Micelles.

By incorporating a hydrophobic drug such as 17-AAG into PEG-PLAmicelles, a larger amount of the drug can be dissolved in a given amountof fluid, such as a pharmaceutical carrier, or body fluid, such as bloodor interstitial fluids, than can be dissolved without use of themicelles. Thus, the micelles effectively solubilize the 17-AAG to ahigher degree than would be otherwise possible. A pharmaceutical carrierthat dissolves the micelles such that the micelles can pass through afilter are considered to be dissolved in a pharmaceutical “solution”, toprovide a formulation according to an embodiment of the invention.

Most hydrophobic drugs such as paclitaxel, rapamycin, and 17-AAG have awater solubility on the order of micrograms (g) per mL. The uniquecombination of the drugs described herein encapsulated in PEG-b-PLAmicelles solubilized the drugs at surprisingly high levels, on the orderof 4 mg/mL to more than 9 mg/mL. Compared to the solubility of a singlehydrophobic drug in PEG-b-PLA micelles, combinations of the hydrophobicdrugs show more than merely an additive effect, which iscounterintuitive to general assumptions of hydrophobic drug solubility.

In one embodiment, the micelles can solubilize up to about 15 mg/mL ofpaclitaxel, rapamycin, 17-AAG, or a combination thereof, or up to about20 mg/mL of the drugs, in combination. In some embodiments, the micellescan solubilize about 3 mg/mL, about 5 mg/mL, about 10 mg/mL, about 15mg/mL, about 20 mg/mL, or about 25 mg/mL of the drugs. In someembodiments, the formulation can have concentrations of about 0.5 toabout 5 mg/mL of the drugs, about 0.75 to about 3 mg/mL of the drugs,about 1 to about 2 mg/mL of the drugs, or about 1.5 mg/mL, with respectto the volume of micelles or preferably, the volume of the aqueouscarrier. Similar amounts of other combinations of the drugs can beincluded in micelles of certain other embodiments.

In one embodiment, the drug encapsulated micelles are formulated in amixture that includes an aqueous carrier, such as saline or dextrose,and the like. For example, a suitable carrier can be 0.9% NaCl solution,or a 5% aqueous saccharide solution, such as a dextrose or glucosesolution. See, Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, D. B.Troy, Ed., Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (20 Ed., 2005) at pages803-849.

For purposes of administration, for example, parenteral administration,sterile aqueous solutions of water-soluble salts (e.g., NaCl) can beemployed. The aqueous solutions can be isotonic. Additional oralternative carriers may include sesame or peanut oil, as well asaqueous propylene glycol. Aqueous solutions may be suitably buffered, ifnecessary, and the liquid diluent can first be rendered isotonic withsufficient saline or glucose. These aqueous solutions are especiallysuitable for intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal,and intratumoral (IT) injection. Intratumoral injection can beespecially helpful for certain types of therapy, such as the treatmentof cancer, including prostate cancer. Appropriate sterile aqueous mediacan be purchased (e.g., Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, St. Louis, Mo.) orcan be prepared by standard techniques well known to those skilled inthe art.

In some embodiments, the compositions are completely free of additivessuch as one or more of ethanol, dimethyl sulfoxide, or other organicsolvents, phospholipids, castor oil, and castor oil derivatives. Inother embodiments, the composition is substantially free of suchcomponents. As used herein, substantially free means that thecomposition contains less than about 2.5 wt. %, less than about 2 wt. %,less than about 1.5 wt. %, less than about 1 wt. %, less than about 0.5wt. %, or less than about 0.25 wt. %. In some embodiments, certainadditives can increase the stability of the micelles. In one embodiment,a surfactant can be included in the micelle (e.g., in about 0.25 wt. %to about 2.5 wt. %). For example, a suitable surfactant can be anegatively charged phospholipid, such as polyethylene glycol conjugateddistearoyl phosphatidyl-ethanolamine (PEG-DSPE).

Therapy Using Micelle Formulations.

The lack of suitable formulations has hindered the progression of 17-AAGinto clinical trials. Newer derivatives, such as 17-DMAG (alvespimycin),have overcome some problems associated with water solubility. However,the preferential and rapid clearance of these derivatives by the liverlimits drug distribution into tumors, thereby severely limiting theefficacy of the drug. A formulation of 17-AAG that does not requireorganic co-solvents or harsh surfactants has been prepared. Theformulation can solubilize 1.5 mg/mL of 17-AAG in PEG-PLA (12:6 kDa)micelles. A second formulation of 17-AAG that does not require organicco-solvents or surfactants has been prepared. This formulation cansolubilize about five mg/mL of 17-AAG in PEG-PLA (2:2 kDa) micelles.Similar work with paclitaxel encapsulation into PEG-PLA micelles hasdemonstrated that this safer micellar formulation can minimize adverseside effects associated with CrEL following administration of the drugto patients. In addition, the nanoscale dimensions will further benefittumor specificity of the drug through the EPR effect even in the absenceof targeting ligands.

The micelles can be formulated into a pharmaceutical solution andadministered to a patient. The pharmaceutical solution formulation canallow for delivery of a requisite amount of the drugs to the body withinan acceptable time, for example, about 10 minutes, to about 3 hours,typically about 1 to about 2 hours, for example, about 90 minutes. Theadministration can be parenteral, for example, by infusion, injection,or IV, and the patient can be a mammal, for example, a human. Uponadministration, the micelles can circulate intact, dissociate intoindividual polymer chains, release active agents (either by diffusion ormicelle dissociation), distribute into tissue (e.g. tumors), and/orundergo renal clearance. The schedule of these events cannot bepredicted with specificity, and these events significantly influence theanti-tumor activity of the active agents, such as paclitaxel, rapamycin,or 17-AAG.

In some embodiments, the drug-loaded micelles can extravasate into tumorinterstices, at which point the active agent-containing micelles releasethe drugs from the micelles due to the intracellular conditions. Theactive agent can then diffuse into tumor cells. Another aspect of theinvention includes the micelles crossing leaky vasculature andendocytosing into tumor cells, and inhibiting the tumor cell growth,and/or killing the tumor cells.

A disease, disorder, or condition can be treated by administering apharmaceutical formulation of micelles that contain the drugcombinations recited herein. Administration of the compositionsdescribed herein can result in a reduction in the size and/or the numberof cancerous growths in a patient, and/or a reduction in one or morecorresponding associated symptoms. When administered in an effectiveamount by the methods described herein, the compositions of theinvention can produce a pathologically relevant response, such asinhibition of cancer cell proliferation, reduction in the size of acancer or tumor, prevention of further metastasis, inhibition of tumorangiogenesis, and/or death of cancerous cells. The method of treatingsuch diseases and conditions described below includes administering atherapeutically effective amount of a composition of the invention to apatient. The method may be repeated as necessary, for example, daily,weekly, or monthly, or multiples thereof.

Conditions that can be treated include, but are not limited to,hyperproliferative diseases, including cancers of the head and neck,which include tumors of the head, neck, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses,nasopharynx, oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, hypopharynx, salivaryglands, and paragangliomas; cancers of the liver and biliary tree,particularly hepatocellular carcinoma; intestinal cancers, particularlycolorectal cancer; ovarian cancer; small cell and non-small cell lungcancer; prostate cancer; pancreatic cancer; breast cancer sarcomas, suchas fibrosarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, embryonalrhabdomyosarcoma, leiomysosarcoma, neurofibrosarcoma, osteosarcoma,synovial sarcoma, liposarcoma, and alveolar soft part sarcoma; neoplasmsof the central nervous systems, particularly brain cancer; and/orlymphomas such as Hodgkin's lymphoma, lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma,follicular lymphoma, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, mantlecell lymphoma, B-lineage large cell lymphoma, Burkitt's lymphoma, orT-cell anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

Non-cancer conditions that are characterized by cellularhyperproliferation can also be treated using the methods describedherein. For example, the drugs can be administered according to themethods described herein to treat conditions that are characterized bycellular hyperproliferation. Illustrative examples of such non-cancerconditions, disorders, or diseases include, but are not limited to,atrophic gastritis, inflammatory hemolytic anemia, graft rejection,inflammatory neutropenia, bullous pemphigoid, coeliac disease,demyelinating neuropathies, dermatomyositis, inflammatory bowel disease(ulcerative colitis and/or Crohn's disease), multiple sclerosis,myocarditis, myositis, nasal polyps, chronic sinusitis, pemphigusvulgaris, primary glomerulonephritis, psoriasis, surgical adhesions,stenosis or restenosis, scleritis, scleroderma, eczema (including atopicdermatitis, irritant dermatitis, allergic dermatitis), periodontaldisease (i.e., periodontitis), polycystic kidney disease, and type Idiabetes. Other examples include vasculitis, e.g., Giant cell arteritis(temporal arteritis, Takayasu's arteritis), polyarteritis nodosa,allergic angiitis and granulomatosis (Churg-Strauss disease),polyangitis overlap syndrome, hypersensitivity vasculitis(Henoch-Schonlein purpura), serum sickness, drug-induced vasculitis,infectious vasculitis, neoplastic vasculitis, vasculitis associated withconnective tissue disorders, vasculitis associated with congenitaldeficiencies of the complement system, Wegener's granulomatosis,Kawasaki's disease, vasculitis of the central nervous system, Buerger'sdisease and systemic sclerosis; gastrointestinal tract diseases, e.g.,pancreatitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, ulcerative proctitis,primary sclerosing cholangitis, benign strictures of any cause includingideopathic (e.g., strictures of bile ducts, esophagus, duodenum, smallbowel or colon); respiratory tract diseases (e.g., asthma,hypersensitivity pneumonitis, asbestosis, silicosis and other forms ofpneumoconiosis, chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive airwaydisease); nasolacrimal duct diseases (e.g., strictures of all causesincluding idiopathic); eustachian tube diseases (e.g., strictures of allcauses including idiopathic); as well as neurological diseases, fungaldiseases, viral infections, and/or malaria.

The terms “treat” and “treatment” refer to any process, action,application, therapy, or the like, wherein a mammal, including a humanbeing, is subject to medical aid with the object of improving themammal's condition, directly or indirectly. Treatment typically refersto the administration of an effective amount of a micelle composition asdescribed herein.

The terms “effective amount” or “therapeutically effective amount” areintended to qualify the amount of a therapeutic agent required torelieve to some extent one or more of the symptoms of a condition,disease or disorder, including, but not limited to: 1) reduction in thenumber of cancer cells; 2) reduction in tumor size; 3) inhibition of(i.e., slowing to some extent, preferably stopping) cancer cellinfiltration into peripheral organs; 3) inhibition of (i.e., slowing tosome extent, preferably stopping) tumor metastasis; 4) inhibition, tosome extent, of tumor growth; 5) relieving or reducing to some extentone or more of the symptoms associated with the disorder; and/or 6)relieving or reducing the side effects associated with theadministration of active agents.

The term “inhibition,” in the context of neoplasia, tumor growth ortumor cell growth, may be assessed by delayed appearance of primary orsecondary tumors, slowed development of primary or secondary tumors,decreased occurrence of primary or secondary tumors, slowed or decreasedseverity of secondary effects of disease, arrested tumor growth andregression of tumors, among others. In the extreme, complete inhibitioncan be referred to as prevention or chemoprevention. The inhibition canbe about 10%, about 25%, about 50%, about 75%, or about 90% inhibition,with respect to progression that would occur in the absence oftreatment.

Using a pharmaceutical solution formulation of this invention, activeagents such as paclitaxel, rapamycin, 17-AAG and/or an anticancer orcytotoxic agent may be administered in a dose ranging from about 4 mg/m²to about 4000 mg/m², depending on the frequency of administration. Inone embodiment, a dosage regimen for the drug combinations can be about400-500 mg/m² weekly, or about 450 mg/m² weekly. See Banerji et al.,Proc. Am. Soc. Clin. Oncol., 22, 199 (2003, abstract 797).Alternatively, a dose of about 300 mg/m² to about 325 mg/m², or about308 mg/m² weekly can be administered to the patient. See Goetz et al.,Eur. J. Cancer, 38 (Supp. 7), S54-S55 (2002). Another dosage regimenincludes twice weekly injections, with doses ranging from about 200mg/m² to about 360 mg/m² (for example, about 200 mg/m², about 220 mg/m²,about 240 mg/m², about 250 mg/m², about 260 mg/m², about 280 mg/m²,about 300 mg/m², about 325 mg/m², 340 mg/m², about 350 mg/m², or about360 mg/m², depending on the severity of the condition and health of thepatient). A dosage regimen that can be used for combination treatmentswith another drug, such as paclitaxel or docetaxel, can administer thetwo drugs every three weeks, with the dose of 17-AAG of about 500 mg/m²to about 700 mg/m², or up to about 650 mg/m² at each administration.Other concurrent dosing schedules that can be employed are described byFung et al., Clin. Cancer Res. 2009; 15(17), 5389-5395.

The following Examples are intended to illustrate the above inventionand should not be construed as to narrow its scope. One skilled in theart will readily recognize that the Examples suggest many other ways inwhich the invention could be practiced. It should be understood thatnumerous variations and modifications may be made while remaining withinthe scope of the invention.

EXAMPLES Example 1 17-AAG Encapsulation in PEG-b-PLA Micelles

Preparation of 17-(allylamino)-17-demethoxygeldanamycin.

17-AAG was synthesized in the lab from geldanamycin (GA) (LCLaboratories, Woburn, Mass.). Briefly, 100 mg of GA (0.2 mmol) wasdissolved in 2 mL of dry CH₂Cl₂. Next, 5 equivalents of allylamine (57.1g/mol, d=0.763 g/mL) was added dropwise to the flask. The reaction wasstirred at room temperature (RT; ˜23° C.) under low light until completeby TLC analysis (approx. 2 days) (95:5 CHCl₃:MeOH, R_(f) 0.21),precipitated with hexane (3×), centrifuged at 2000 g's for 15 minutes,and evaporated to dryness. Yield: 95 mg, 95%; MS m/z 584 (M⁻); ¹H NMR(CDCl₃) δ 0.99 (m, 6H, 10-Me, 14-Me), 1.25 (t, 1H, H-13), 1.60-1.85 (brm, 6H, H-13, H-14, 8-Me), 2.05 (s, 3H, 2-Me), 2.46 (br m, 2H, H-15),2.83-2.90 (br m, 3H, H-10), 3.27 (s, 3H, OMe), 3.36 (s, 3H, OMe), 3.40(t, 1H, H-12), 3.58-3.68 (br m, 2H, H-11, H-23), 4.31 (d, 1H, H-7), 5.10(br s, 1H), 5.21-5.55 (br m, 3H, H-9, H-24), 5.86-5.99 (br t, 2H, H-5,H-23), 6.59 (t, 1H, H-4), 6.94 (d, 1H, H-3), 7.28 (br s, 1H, H-19).

Preparation and Characterization of Drug Loaded PEG-PLA Micelles.

17-AAG was formulated by dissolving it with PEG-PLA (12:6 kDa) (PolymerSource, Montreal, Canada) in dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and dialyzingagainst H₂O, following procedures by Kataoka and coworkers (J. Control.Release 62(1-2) (1999) 89-100). For example, 5 mg of 17-AAG and 45 mg ofPEG-PLA (10:90 w/w) were dissolved in 10 mL DMAc. The resulting solutionwas dialyzed against H₂O in 3500 MWCO tubing (SpectraPor). Resultingmicelles were centrifuged at 5000 g's for 10 minutes to precipitateunincorporated drug. Incorporation into micelles was verified usingaqueous GPC (Shodex SB-806M) by confirming equivalent retention timesbased on refractive index for the micelles and absorbance of 17-AAG (UV2332). Micelle solutions were concentrated by rotary evaporation underreduced pressure at room temperature, followed by centrifugation (5000g's for 10 minutes).

Quantitative drug loading in micelles was determined by monitoring thearea under the curve (AUC) for 17-AAG (based on a 17-AAG calibrationcurve) through reverse-phase HPLC (Shodex C18 column, 65-82.5:35-17.5MeOH to 55% MeOH+0.2% formic acid gradient, 40° C., 332 nm detection).Effective diameters of PEG-PLA micelles, with and without drugs, weremeasured using a Brookhaven dynamic light scattering apparatus (100 mW,532 nm laser) with Gaussian intensity fitting. The critical micelleconcentration (CMC) for these PEG-b-PDLLA micelles was determined bymeasuring the 339/334-nm excitation ratio of pyrene in the presence ofvarious concentrations of PEG-PLA (3×10⁻⁵ mg·mL⁻¹ to 1 mg·mL⁻¹).

Briefly, PEG-b-PDLLA micelles were prepared as described above in serialdilutions and incubated with 0.6 μM pyrene for 1 hour at 80° C., allowedto sit in the dark for 15 hours at RT, and the fluorescence emission ofpyrene was measured at 390 nm (RF-5301 PC spectrofluoro-photometer,Shimadzu). Pyrene undergoes well-known photophysical changes in responseto its microenvironment polarity (Colloids Surf, A Physiochem. Eng. Asp.118 (1996) 1-39). A sharp increase in the ratio of 339/334 nm excitationoccurs at the CMC as the pyrene preferentially partitions into thehydrophobic cores of PEG-b-PDLLA micelles (J. Control. Release 77(1-2)(2001) 155-160).

Micelle formulations can be prepared, characterized, and evaluated, asdescribed in WO 2009/009067 (Kwon et al.), for example, analogous to theprocedures described in Examples 2 and 3 therein.

Example 2 Drug Solubilization; Reference Examples

Several polymers that form micelles with drugs were surveyed forsolubilizing a paclitaxel-rapamycin-17-AAG drug combination. Thecombination proved difficult to solubilize without a correct set ofmicellar properties. For example, the PEG-PPG-PEG triblock polymerPoloxamer F68 is useful to solubilize many hydrophobic compounds such asresveratrol, a hydrophobic compound with reported anticancer activity.Poloxamer F68, however, was unable to solubilize paclitaxel, rapamycin,or 17-AAG individually, or the combination of paclitaxel, rapamycin, and17-AAG. In these attempts, the micelles coagulated and deteriorated inaqueous solutions.

Conversely, PEG-b-PLA does not form stable micelles when combined withresveratrol, but does form very stable micelles with both 17-AAG and thepaclitaxel-rapamycin-17-AAG drug combination. Additionally, the tri-drugloaded PEG-b-PLA micelles display remarkable properties by solubilizingthe drugs in a nearly additive fashion. Thus suitable polymers forsolubilizing each drug and drug combination must be determinedempirically because no reliable predictive trends exist at this time.

Results for forming micelles of the paclitaxel-rapamcyin-17-AAGcombination with Poloxamer F68:

(1) Rapamycin (rap) by itself with Poloxamer F68: loading efficiency waspoor. After reconstitution, rapamycin=0.09 mg/mL (initialconcentration=2.4 mg/mL); only 4% loading into micelles and formed awhite precipitation upon addition of water.

(2) Rapamycin, paclitaxel and 17-AAG with Poloxamer F68: loadingefficiency was also poor.

Final concentration of rap=0.35 mg/mL (initial conc.=2.4 mg/mL): 15%loading.

Final concentration of paclitaxel=0.80 mg/mL (initial conc.=4.1 mg/mL):15% loading.

Final concentration of 17-AAG=0.67 mg/mL (initial conc.=4.1 mg/mL): 16%loading.

Example 3 Multi-Drug Loaded Polymeric Micelles for Simultaneous Deliveryof Poorly Soluble Anticancer Drugs

PEG-b-PLA, an amphiphilic block copolymer, assembles readily in waterinto micelles. It has been shown to raise the solubility of paclitaxel(PTX) from approximately 1 μg/mL to 10 mg/mL. PEG-b-PLA is much lesstoxic than CrEL. However, a recent phase II clinical trial in metastaticbreast cancer patients showed that FIX dosed as part of PEG-b-PLAmicelles, without premedication with corticosteroids and histamineantagonists, does induce hypersensitivity reactions, albeit lessseverely than CrEL. PEG-b-PLA micelles increase the maximum tolerateddose of PTX in humans in comparison to CrEL, enhancing its anti-tumorefficacy. There is also evidence that PEG-b-PLA micelles impart linearPK for PTX, strongly contrasting with CrEL that induces a non-linear PKprofile for PTX, i.e. lowering its clearance with dose escalation. Usingthese PEG-b-PLA micelles to raise the solubility of various anticanceragents is a potential delivery option, facilitating ease of entry intoclinical trials in the cancer arena.

However, due to the heterogeneity of cancer cells as well as acquireddrug resistance, single agent therapy is limited and combinationchemotherapy has become a standard regimen to treat cancer patients. Tobe specific, drug combinations are beneficial in the view of retardingoccurrence of resistant cell lines and wide coverage against multiplecell lines, resulting in maximum cell killing effect within acceptabletoxicity. Synergistic drug combinations produce an even greater responserate or survival time than is possible with each drug used alone at itsoptimum dose. For example, 17-AAG, a prototype Hsp90 inhibitor, hadsynergistic effects with a broad range of anticancer agents in differenttumor cell lines. 17-AAG causes a remarkable combinatorial depletion ofmultiple oncogenic proteins, e.g. Akt, ErbB-2, and Hif-1α, causing ablockage of cancer-causing and survival pathways, and there is keeninterest in the combination of chemotherapy and 17-AAG.

In the case of PTX and 17-AAG or rapamycin, it has been shown that FIXsensitizes cancer cells to apoptosis induced by 17-AAG, a mitoticinhibitor with anti-neoplastic activity, when the drugs are giventogether or when PTX treatment was followed by exposure to 17-AAG.Similar effects are founds when FIX is given together with rapamycin orwhen FIX treatment was followed by exposure to rapamycin. These two drugcombination were synergistic in various cancer cell lines and in mice.Additionally in mice bearing 11358 human non-small-cell lung cancerxenografts, PTX cytotoxicity was enhanced by 5-22 fold when combinedwith 17-AAG. The combination of PTX and 17-AAG was also evaluated inhumans and showed enhanced efficacy and better tolerability profile ascompared to PTX alone. In another case, 17-AAG has also enhanced theactivity of ETO, a topoisomerase II inhibitor, in vitro and in vivo. Thecombination of 17-AAG and ETO showed synergism in leukemia cells.Another study demonstrated the combination of 17-AAG and ETO decreasedthe IC₅₀ of ETO by 10 fold in four different pediatric acutelymphoblastic leukemia cell lines.

However, despite the advantages of combination chemotherapy, one of themain problems associated with clinical use is the complicated regimensthat must be administered to patients. As most anticancer drugs arepoorly water soluble and utilize toxic excipients to enhance theirsolubility, combining two or three drugs can be challenging in clinicalpractice, owing to compatibility and stability issues. Thus, usingPEG-b-PLA micelles to rationally design and deliver chemotherapeuticregimens instead of single anticancer agents might be a better approachto overcome these formulation related and clinical challenges. Inprevious work, 17-AAG was solubilized in PEG-b-PLA micelles (Xiang etal., J. of Pharm. Sci. 98 (2009) 1577-1586). The PK profile of 12-AAG inthese micelles was similar to CrEL in rats, without the attendanttoxicity observed with the CrEL formulation (no deaths versus 35%mortality for CrEL). Therefore, a PEG-b-PLA micellar systems wasdeveloped as described herein that can simultaneously deliver multipleanticancer agents, like PTX, DOA, or ETO by co-solubilizing them with17-AAG to generate safer, more stable formulations for potentiallysynergistic combination chemotherapy.

Materials.

PEG-b-PLA (Mn PEG and PLA were 4.2 K and 1.9 K respectively, PDI=1.05)was purchased from Advanced Polymer Materials Inc, (Montreal, CAN).Paclitaxel was obtained from LKT laboratories Inc. (St. Paul, Minn.).Docetaxel and 17-AG were purchased from LC Laboratories (Woburn, Mass.).Etoposide, DMSO-d₆ and D₂O were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich Inc. (St.Louis, Mo.). All other materials were obtained from Fisher ScientificInc. (Fairlawn, N.J.). All reagents were HPLC grade.

Preparation and Characterization of Drug-Loaded PEG-b-PLA Micelles.

Single drug micelles (SDMs) were prepared by adding 2.0 mg of PTX, DCTX,ETO or 17-AAG and 15 mg of PEG-b-PLA in a 5.0 mL round bottom flask. Thedrug-polymer mixture was dissolved in 0.50 mL acetonitrile (ACN). TheACN was removed at 60° C. under reduced pressure on a rotary evaporatorresulting in the formation of a homogenous film. The drug-polymer filmwas rehydrated with 0.50 mL of DD H₂O at 60° C. with gentle agitationresulting in a clear solution of drug-loaded PEG-b-PLA micelles. Themicellar solution was filtered using a 0.45 μm filter, and the micelleswere characterized in terms of size and loading by Dynamic LightScattering (DLS) and HPLC respectively.

PEG-b-PLA was also used to prepare multiple drug, micelles (MDMs) withdifferent drug combinations of PTX/17-AAG, DCTX/17-AAG, ETO/17-AAG andPTX/ETO/17-AAG. MDMs were prepared similarly to the SDMs by mixing 2.0mg of each drug with 15 mg of the polymer. The procedure for thepreparation and characterization of these micelles was identical to theSDMs.

Drug(s) to polymer w/w percent was calculated for SDM and MDM. PEG-b-PLAmicelles were freeze dried, weighed and the amount of drugs) in thefreeze dried sample was quantified by HPLC. The drug w/w percent wascalculated as the mass of the drug(s) to the mass of polymer in thefreeze dried sample multiplied by 100.

Quantification of Drug Loading in SDM and MDM by Reverse Phase HPLC.

The content of drug loaded in PEG-b-PLA micelles was quantified byreverse phase HPLC. The HPLC system used for quantifying was a Shimadzuprominence HPLC system (Shimadzu, JP), consisting of a LC-20AT pump,SIL-20AC HT autosampler, CTO-20AC column oven and a SPD-M20A diode arraydetector. A sample of 10 μL was injected into a Zorbax SB-C8 RapidResolution cartridge (4.6×75 mm, 3.5 micron, Agilent). The columntemperature was maintained at 40° C. throughout the run. Two HPLCmethods were developed to quantify the amount of the drug(s) loaded inPEG-b-PLA micelles.

The first method was developed to quantify PTX, DCTX and 17-AAG in SDMor MDM. The mobile phase was an isocratic mixture of 45% ACN and 54%aqueous phase containing 0.1% phosphoric acid and 1% methanol in DD H₂O.The run time was 10 min, the flow rate was 1.0 mL/min and the detectionwas at 227 nm for PTX and DCTX, while 17-AAG was detected at 333 nm. Theretention times of 17-AAG, PTX, and DCTX were 5.6, 6.8 and 8.1 min,respectively, while the limits of detection (LODs) of the three drugs bythis method were 1.00, 0.52, and 0.43 μg/mL, respectively.

The second HPLC method was developed to quantify PTX, ETO and 17-AAG inSDM or MDM. The mobile phase was a gradient mixture of ACN and aqueousphase containing 0.1% phosphoric acid and 1% methanol in DD H₂O. The runtime was 15 min, the flow rate was 1.0 mL/min and the detection was at227 nm for PTX and ETO while 17-AAG was detected at 333 nm. Theretention times of ETO, PTX and 17-AAG were 3.3, 8.0 and 8.5 minrespectively while LODs of the three drugs were 0.55, 0.47 and 0.43μg/mL, respectively. With both HPLC methods samples were injected twiceand reproducible and rapid separation of the drugs was achieved.

Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) Measurements of SDM and MDM.

The size of the micelles was determined by DLS using a ZETASIZER Nano-ZS(Malvern Instruments Inc., UK) equipped with He—Ne laser (4 mW, 633 nm)light source and 90° C. angle scattered light collection configuration.The drug-loaded micellar solutions were diluted 20 times with DD H₂O andthe samples was equilibrated for 2 min at 25° C. before themeasurements. Final PEG-b-PLA concentration was approximately 1.5 mg/mL.The hydrodynamic diameter of PEG-b-PLA micelles was calculated based onthe Stokes-Einstein equation. Correlation function was curve fitted bycumulant method to calculate mean size and polydispersion index (PDI).All measurements were repeated three times, and volume-weighted particlesizes were presented as the average diameter with standard deviation.

Turbidity Measurements of SDM and MDM.

Turbidity measurements were used to evaluate the physical stability ofdrug-loaded PEG-b-PLA micelles. A CARY 50 BIO UV-Visiblespectrophotometer equipped with dip probe was used to measure turbidity.Micellar solutions were diluted six times, for a final concentration ofPEG-b-PLA of 5 mg/mL, with DD H₂O and filtered through 0.45 μm filter.The absorbance of each sample was recorded at 650 nm and collected over24 hours at ambient temperature (˜23° C.). Each measurement wasperformed in triplicate.

¹H NMR Spectroscopy of SDM and MDM.

NMR spectroscopy was used to confirm the incorporation of drugs intoPEG-b-PLA micelles. Individual drugs or multiple drugs in PEG-b-PLApolymer films were prepared as described above. The formed film wassolubilized in 0.70 mL of DMSO-d₆ or in 0.70 mL D₂O warmed to 60° C.,and the ¹H NMR spectrum recorded for each sample. ¹H NMR measurementswere performed on ^(UNITY)INOVA NMR spectrometers (Varian, USA) modeloperating at 400 MHz normal proton frequencies. Sample temperature wasregulated for all measurements and was set at 25° C. The spectrometerwas equipped with FTS Systems preconditioning device (composed ofrefrigerating unit, internal temperature controller and inclusiontransfer line). To control pre-cooling or pre-heating of the compressedand dried air used as temperature control medium: final temperatureregulation of the sample was achieved within the NMR probe. Acquisitionparameters were adjusted on a case-by-case basis to provide adequatesignal-to-noise ratio and spectral resolution, the latter typically at0.5 ppB/point for 1D High-resolution proton. More specifically, protonswere excited by a single π/2 pulse followed by detection of the protonsignal.

In Vitro Release Profiles of Drug(s) from SDM and MDM.

The release profile of DCTX, ETO and 17-AAG from PEG-b-PLA micelles wasevaluated by a dialysis method. SDMs or MDMs were prepared andcharacterized as described above. Post micelle preparation each samplewas diluted with DD H₂O, to yield about 0.101 ng/mL of each drug. Avolume of 2.5 mL of the prepared sample was loaded into a 3 mLSlide-A-Lyzer® (Thermo Scientific Inc.) dialysis cassette with a MWCO of20,000 g/mol. Four cassettes were used in each experiment. The cassetteswere placed in 2.0 L of buffer which was changed every 3 hours to ensuresink conditions for drug(s) and polymer. A sample of 100 μL was drawnfrom each cassette at various sampling time intervals and then replacedwith 100 μL of fresh buffer. The sampling time intervals were 0, 0.5, 2,3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 hours. The amount of drug(s) in each sample wasquantified by HPLC as described above.

Data Analysis.

Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA at 5%significance level combined with Tukey's Multiple Comparison Test ort-test at 5% significance level. Curve-fitting analysis using one phaseexponential association was used to calculate the half-life (t_(1/2)) ofdrug in in vitro drug release experiments. Both analyses were performedusing GraphPad Prism version 5.00 for Windows, Graph-Pad Software, SanDiego Calif. USA, www.graphpad.com.

Preparation and Characterization of Drug-Loaded PEG-b-PLA Micelles.

SDMs were prepared for PTX, DCTX, ETO or 17-AAG with PEG-b-PLA. Thesolubility of all drugs in the micelles was starkly significantly higheras compared to their intrinsic solubility in water (Table 3-1 and FIG.1). PTX solubility increased from 0.0003 mg/ml to 3.50 mg/mL, DCTXsolubility increased from 0.0055 mg/mL, to 4.27 ng/mL. ETO solubilityalso increased from 0.0580 mg/mL to 3.17 mg/mL. 17-AAG solubilityincreased from 0.1000 mg/mL to 4.21 mg/mL.

TABLE 3-1 Drug Combination Solubilization Results for PEG-b-PLAMicelles: Physical Characterization of SDM and MDM (n = 3 ± SD).PEG-b-PLA drug level % drug loading micelle Anticancer in water (wt.drug(s)/ diameter agent (mg/mL) wt. polymer) (nm ± SD) Paclitaxel 3.54 ±0.32 11.8 ± 1.1 38.8 ± 0.6 Docetaxel 4.27 ± 0.44 14.2 ± 1.5 37.3 ± 1.7Etoposide 3.31 ± 0.15 11.0 ± 0.5 32.6 ± 1.0 17-AAG 3.90 ± 0.28 13.0 ±0.9 39.3 ± 2.9 Paclitaxel + 3.92 ± 0.17 26.0 ± 1.4 38.9 ± 1.1 17-AAG3.88 ± 0.29 Docetaxel + 4.62 ± 0.44 28.8 ± 0.2 39.0 ± 0.8 17-AAG 4.01 ±0.08 Etoposide + 3.49 ± 0.24 25.6 ± 1.3 35.3 ± 1.2 17-AAG 4.21 ± 0.38Etoposide + 3.17 ± 0.04 34.3 ± 1.6 36.5 ± 0.5 Paclitaxel + 3.50 ± 0.2017-AAG 3.61 ± 0.33 (n = 3, Mean ± SD)

PEG-b-PLA was used to prepare MDM with different drug combinations ofPTX/17-AAG, DCTX/17-AAG, ETO/17-AAG and PTX/ETO/17-AGG. The magnitude ofsolubility enhancement for all drugs in the MDM micelles was similar tothe SDMs. The presence of multiple drugs within PEG-b-PLA micelles didnot adversely affect the apparent solubility enhancement of theindividual drugs in a statistically significant manner (Table 3-1 andFIG. 1). The drug(s) to polymer w/w percents of SDM and MDM are listedin Table 3-1. For SDM, PTX, DCTX, ETO and 17-AAG w/w percents were 10.3,11.5, 9.6 and 11.3% respectively. The w/w percents for all drugs in theMDM were statistically the same as the SDM. For all SDMs and MDMsapproximately 100% of the initial amount of the drug(s) and polymer wasrecovered as loaded PEG-b-PLA micelles. The capacity of these PEG-b-PLAmicelles to incorporate drugs increased as the number drugs being loadedincreased. For SDM the loading capacity % NOV was approximately 10%,with two drug MDM the loading capacity of the micelle increased toapproximately 25% w/w and with three-drug MDM the loading capacity wasapproximately 35% w/w.

DLS Measurements of SDM and MDM.

The sizes of unloaded PEG-b-PLA micelle, SDMs and MDMs measured by DLSare listed in Table 3-1. All micelles exhibited a unimodal distributionwith a size range of 30-40 nm. PDIs of all SDMs and MDMs were below 0.2,indicating narrow particle size distribution.

Turbidity Measurements of SDM and MDM.

The physical stability of SDM and MDM was evaluated by turbiditymeasurements. The increase in turbidity, as measured by changes inabsorbance at 650 nm, over time correlates with drug precipitationfollowing release from PEG-b-PLA micelles. The turbidity measurementswere further supported by HPLC and DLS measurements. SDM with 17-AAG isphysically stable over 24 hours without a change in particle size ordrug loss (Table 3-21.

TABLE 3-2 Drug Loss from PEG-b-PLA Micelles After 24 Hours: Initialsolubility and solubility at 24 h of drug(s) in SDM and MDM as assessedby reverse phase HPLC (n = 3 ± SD). initial drug level drug level @ 24hr Anticancer in water in water % w/w drug(s) agent (mg/mL) (mg/mL) left@ 24 hr Paclitaxel 3.54 ± 0.32 0.57 ± 0.07 16.2 ± 1.0 Docetaxel 4.27 ±0.44 1.14 ± 0.03 26.8 ± 3.3 Etoposide 3.31 ± 0.15 1.07 ± 0.16 32.3 ± 3.417-AAG 3.90 ± 0.28 3.84 ± 0.18 98.6 ± 2.4 Paclitaxel + 3.92 ± 0.17 3.86± 0.15 98.5 ± 0.3 17-AAG 3.88 ± 0.29 3.77 ± 0.28 96.9 ± 0.2 Docetaxel +4.62 ± 0.44 4.45 ± 0.13 96.3 ± 1.8 17-AAG 4.01 ± 0.08 3.83 ± 0.17 95.5 ±2.7 Etoposide + 3.49 ± 0.24 3.28 ± 0.19 94.1 ± 1.5 17-AAG 4.21 ± 0.383.95 ± 0.39 93.9 ± 1.1 Etoposide + 3.17 ± 0.04 3.11 ± 0.06 98.2 ± 1.1Paclitaxel + 3.50 ± 0.20 3.46 ± 0.18 98.7 ± 1.3 17-AAG 3.61 ± 0.33 3.52± 0.33 97.5 ± 1.4

SDM with PTX (FIG. 2), DCTX and ETO were stable for approximately 6hours. HPLC data shows that at 24 hours approximately 84%, 73% and 68%of PTX, DCTX and ETO precipitated, respectively. SDM solutions exhibiteda cloudy, white appearance post 24 hours indicative of drugprecipitation. DLS data also showed aggregate formation (data notshown). MDMs with PTX and 17-AAG were more stable against precipitationthan SDM with PTX alone over a 24 hour period (FIG. 2), noting drugretention of approximately 97% (Table 3-2). DCTX/17-AAG and ETO/17-AAGhave similar results for stability and drug retention within the micelleof approximately 96% and 94% respectively (Table 3-2). At 24 hours theseMDM solutions were visually clear and DLS data confirmed the particlesize, remained between 30 and 40 nm (data not shown). In the 3-drugcombination, MDM of PTX/ETO/17-AAG was stable for 24 hours (FIG. 2).Drug loading data indicated that all drugs were retained above 97% oftheir initial loading value at 24 hours. MDM solutions were visuallyclear and particle size did not change significantly at 24 hours (datanot shown).

¹H NMR spectroscopy of SDM and MDM.

¹H NMR measurements were used to confirm the incorporation of drugs intoPEG-b-PLA micelles. ¹H NMR spectra in DMSO-d₆ for individual drugs anddrug combinations showed all the prominent resonance peaksrepresentative of the drug(s) and those of PLA and PEG blocks. Incontrast, only the PEG resonance peaks were detected in D₂O while PLAand drug(s) resonance peaks were absent due to the restricted mobilityof the PLA and drug(s) molecules within the core of the micelle which isindicative of drug(s) incorporation into PEG-b-PLA micelles.

PEG-b-PLA was identified by proton resonances at 3.4-3.6 ppm fromethylene oxide of the PEG group and the proton resonances at 5.0-5.1 forthe lactic acid group. 17-AAG was identified by proton resonance at 0.7ppm for the methyl groups. PTX was identified by proton resonances at1.0 ppm for its methyl groups at C16 and C17. Lastly, ETO was identifiedby proton resonances between 6 and 7 ppm for the aromatic protons of thebenzene rings.

In vitro Release Profiles of Drug(s) from SDM and MDM.

Drug release data from SDM containing 17-AAG, ETO showed that over 90%of the drug was released from PEG-b-PLA micelle in 6 hours (FIG. 3A).Over 90% of DCTX was released from SDM in 9 hours (FIG. 3A). Rapidprecipitation of PTX from the SDM during the dialysis experimentprecluded garnering of any meaningful data. MDM containing PTX and17-AAG showed over 72% FIX release in 24 hours while more than 90% of17-AAG was released in 9 hours (FIG. 3B). MDM containing ETO and 17-AAGshowed over 90% drug release in 6 and 9 hours, respectively (FIG. 3C).MDM containing DCTX and 17-AAG showed over 90% release in 12 and 9hours, respectively (FIG. 3D).

MDM containing the three-drug combination of PTX/ETO/17-AAG showedapproximately 80% release of PTX in 24 hours and over 90% release forETO and 17-AAG in 6 and 9 hours, respectively (FIG. 3E). The in vitrodrug release data was curve fitted using one phase exponentialassociation (GraphPad Prism). The first-order rate constant derived fromthe curve fitting was used to calculate the t_(1/2) of the drug releasefrom PEG-b-PLA micelles. The data for the SDM and MDM is presented inTable 3-3 along with the goodness of fit and log oil-in water partitioncoefficient values for all drugs. The data in Table 3-3 lists thefirst-order rate constants and the t_(1/2) values for all SDM and MDMexcept for SDM with PTX. This again was due to the rapid precipitationof PTX from the SDM during drug release test, which precluded thepossibility of garnering any useful data.

TABLE 3-3 Parameters For In Vitro Drug Release from PEG-B-PLA Micelles(Single Agent, 2- Or 3-Drug Combinations): Curve Fitting of In VitroDrug(s) Release from SDM and MDM (n = 4, mean ± SD). Anticancerfirst-order rate goodness log agent constant (hr⁻¹) t_(1/2) (hr) of fit(r²) P ⁽¹⁾ Paclitaxel — — — 3.0 Docetaxel 0.379 1.83 0.993 2.4 17-AAG0.525 1.32 0.999 1.3 Etoposide 0.636 1.09 0.999 1.0 Paclitaxel 0.1385.01 0.938 3.0 17-AAG 0.398 1.74 0.996 1.3 Docetaxel 0.288 2.41 0.9962.4 17-AAG 0.375 1.85 0.996 1.3 17-AAG 0.414 1.67 0.997 1.3 Etoposide0.657 1.06 0.997 1.0 Paclitaxel 0.136 5.10 0.973 3.0 17-AAG 0.386 1.800.995 1.3 Etoposide 0.785 0.88 0.992 1.0 ⁽¹⁾ Calculated from XLog Pver2.0 (http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/). (Curve-fitted with GraphicPrism v4.03)

Discussion.

PEG-b-PLA micelles were able to successfully solubilize allchemotherapeutic agents alone or in combination with other drugs atclinically relevant levels. Given the toxicity associated with commonformulation vehicles used, like CrEL, ethanol, DMSO and Tureen 80 toname a few, this formulation provides a safer and less toxicalternative. Additionally, the presence of multiple drugs within thesame micelles did not adversely affect the solubility enhancementachieved by individual drugs. This is due to the high loading capacityof PEG-b-PLA micelles as seen by the increasing % w/w contributions ofthe drug in forming these micelles. This allows for combinationchemotherapy within one carrier system, which has not been previouslyattempted due to solubility and stability issues.

Initial solubility studies have indicated that PEG-b-PLA micelles havethe capacity to solubilize multiple drugs allowing for concomitantdelivery of potentially synergistic chemotherapeutic combinationswithout the attendant clinical issues currently seen while usingmultiple drug regimens. The stability of these formulations was alsoevaluated using optical density measurements coupled with HPLC and DLS.Assessing the stability of PEG-b-PLA micelles is crucial to determine ifthe formulation is stable long enough for handling and IVadministration. As the data shows, the SDMs are stable for at least 6hours while the 17-AAG micelles were stable for 24 hours. The two-drugMDM combinations showed greater stability. The presence of 17-AAG inthese micelles helps stabilize the formulation and confers greaterstability of the chemotherapeutic agents at the same level ofsolubilization as seen with the SDM.

All two-drug MDM combinations retained over 94% of their drug loading at24 hours. The three-drug combination MDM showed the highest degree ofstability at 24 hours with over 97% of drug loaded being retained. Forall PEG-b-PLA micelles that were stable at 24 hours there was nosignificant shift in their size as determined by DLS. The stability datais extremely promising and indicates that these MDM formulations areable to deliver clinically relevant doses of their chemotherapeuticagents in a clinically relevant time frame.

The formation of micelles and the localization of the drug(s) within themicellar core was confirmed using ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The ¹H NMRspectrum clearly showed the proton resonances for all drugs andPEG-b-PLA in DMSO-d₆. In contrast, the ¹H NMR spectrum had suppressedproton resonances for the PLA block and drugs with only the PEG blockpeaks clearly visible. The presence of the drug(s) within the micellecore restricts the mobility of the drug(s) molecules and results in aloss of drug proton resonances.

Characterization of the in vitro release kinetics of chemotherapy ofindividual drugs and combinations for PEG-b-PLA micelles is important toassess the stability and release pattern of the drug(s) from the micelleunder sink conditions. The in vitro release of 17-AAG from PEG-b-PLAmicelles was fairly rapid (on the scale of a few hours), consistent witha low impact of PEG-b-PLA micelles on the PK of 17-AAG in rats. In vitrorelease of DCTX, ETO, or 17-AAG from PEG-b-PLA micelles spanned severalhours with t_(1/2) ranging from 1.09 hours for ETO, 1.32 hours for17-AAG, and 1.83 hours for DCTX (FIG. 3), corresponding well with theoil/water partition coefficients of anticancer agents (Table 3-3). PTXprecipitated during release from PEG-b-PLA micelles, preventing anestimation of t_(1/2).

For 2-drug combinations, release of 17-AAG is faster than PTX and DCTXand slower than ETO, which has the lowest log P (FIG. 3 and Table 3-3).For the 3-drug combination, t_(1/2) values for ETO, 17-AAG, and PTX are0.88, 1.80, and 5.10 hours, respectively, for PEG-b-PLA micelles (FIG.3E), corresponding well with the oil/water partition coefficients ofthese anticancer agents.

A surprising phenomenon seen with all the two-drug and thesecombinations is the ability of 17-AAG to stabilize PEG-b-PLA micelles.This phenomenon is starkly evidenced by the stability of PTX in thetwo-drug and three-drug combinations, while itself being proneprecipitation in the SDM formulation. The novel finding of ability of17-AAG to maintain the stability of PTX and other hydrophobic drugs inPEG-b-PLA micelles for at least 24 hours will allow for theseformulations to be suitable for administration to humans by IV orinfusion in combination chemotherapeutic carriers.

Another facet of the in vitro release kinetics indicates that variationbetween the release of anticancer agents from the micelles isdiffusion-controlled and not due to the break down of PEG-b-PLAmicelles, where drug release kinetics are expected to be similar for thetwo- and three-drug combinations. However, t_(1/2) values for PEG-b-PLAmicelles indicate that drug release will be fairly rapid and comparablein vivo, owing to lower stability of PEG-b-PLA micelles in the presenceof serum proteins, specifically α- and β-globulins.

PEG-b-PLA micelles filled with a pair of fluorescent probes, DiIC18 andDiOC18, lose fluorescence resonance energy transfer after IV injectionwithin 15 minutes, indicating rapid release of DiIC18 and DiOC18 invivo. As it turns out, α- and β-globulins induce a rapid loss offluorescence energy transfer of DiIC18 and DiOC18 for PEG-b-PLA micellesin vitro as well, potentially due to disruption of PEG-b-PLA micelles.These results indicate that PEG-b-PLA micelles will release pairs ofchemotherapy and 17-AAG within 1 hour in vivo due to a loss ofintegrity, caused by α- and β-globulins, although effects of dilutionand other components in blood must also be considered. The nature ofthese results will be tested in cancer cell lines to determine cytotoxicconcentrations for these combinations. This will allow for furtherdetermine if any additive and/or synergistic effects are seen with thesecombinations. Murine tumor models determine whether concurrentcombination drug release from PEG-b-PLA micelles may provide linear PKsfor PTX and 17-AAG and synergistic anti-tumor efficacy given highermaximum tolerated doses in comparison to DMSO/lipid and CrEL.

In summary, current chemotherapeutic agents in clinical and preclinicalsituations require dosing with harsh excipients that can cause severeformulation related side effects. Stability concerns create issues withadministering combination chemotherapy simultaneously. The formulationsdescribed herein using PEG-PLA offer novel alternatives to the currentcommercial formulations. This example demonstrated the successfulcombination of up to three chemotherapeutic agents in one carrier systemat clinically relevant concentrations, with 24 hour stability. Anotherimportant find is the ability of 17-AAG to maintain stability ofdifferent hydrophobic drugs in the carrier system for 24 hours.

Example 4 Polymeric Micelles for Nano-Combination Drug Delivery

PEG-b-PLA micelles can serve as a platform nanotechnology for thedelivery of two or more poorly water-soluble anti-cancer agents, toprovide simple, safe, and synergistic combination cancer therapies.Polymeric micelles are nanoscopic vehicles for cancer drug delivery thathave gained attention due to proven safety and progress in drugsolubilization relative to Cremophor EL (CrEL), a commonly usedsurfactant that exerts toxicity, especially when it is used for poorlywater-soluble chemotherapy, e.g. paclitaxel (Taxol®). CrEL-inducedhypersensitivity reactions cause discontinuation of drug therapy anddeath despite pre-medication with steroids. CrEL micelles causepharmacokinetic (PK) interactions for poorly water-soluble anti-canceragents due to drug entrapment, raising risks of non-linear PK andreduced tumor accumulation of anti-cancer agents.

PEG-b-PLA assembles into nanoscopic micelles that raise the watersolubility of paclitaxel from 1.0 mg/L to 5.0 mg/mL (Genexol®).PEG-b-PLA is much less toxic than CrEL, increases the maximum tolerateddose (MTD) of paclitaxel, and increases tumor localization in murinetumor models due to increased dose and apparent linear PK profile. As aresult, PEG-b-PLA micelles enhance the anti-tumor efficacy of paclitaxelin phase I/II clinical trials. Many obstacles facing development,scale-up, and safety constraints have been met by this drug deliverynanotechnology.

It has been discovered that PEG-b-PLA micelles can take up andsolubilize multiple anti-cancer agents, providing a novel and simpleapproach for combination cancer therapy, to provide synergisticanti-tumor efficacy involving combinations of chemo-therapy and signaltransduction inhibitors. This Example provides novel 3-drug anti-cancercombination involving paclitaxel, rapamycin, and 17-allylamino-17AAG.Pre-clinical data indicate that paclitaxel exerts synergistic anti-tumoractivity in murine tumor models with rapamycin or 17-AAG. While actingvia different mechanisms of action and on different targets, bothrapamycin and 17-AAG act on cancer survival pathways and are potentangiogenesis inhibitors. Notably, 17-AAG, a prototype heat shock protein90 (Hsp90) inhibitor, knocks out kinases (AKT, Raf), activated by theinhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) by a feed-backmechanism, providing a basis for enhancing the activity of rapamycin,the first mTOR inhibitor.

In this Example, PEG-b-PLA micelles solubilize paclitaxel, rapamycin,and 17-AAG as nano-combinations, offering safety over CrEL andcosolvents, physical stability against drug precipitation, ease ofproduction and scale-up, and low prospects for PK interactions. Each ofthese aspects facilitate the ease of entry into clinical trials for a3-drug combination of paclitaxel, rapamycin, and 17-AAG.

Experimental Methods.

Paclitaxel, rapamycin, 17-AAG (2.0 mg), and PEG-b-PLA (15 mg) weredissolved in acetonitrile (ACN) (0.50 mL) in a round bottom flask. M_(n)of PEG and PLA of PEG-b-PLA was 4,200 and 1,900 g/mol, respectively (APCInc., UK). ACN was removed by heating at 60° C. and reduced pressure.The resultant dry polymer film containing anti-cancer agent(s) wasdissolved by addition of water (0.50 mL) at 60° C. with gentleagitation. The aqueous solution containing PEG-b-PLA micelles filledpaclitaxel, rapamycin, 17-AAG or their combinations was centrifuged,filtered (0.45 μm), and subject to reverse-phase HPLC and dynamic lightscattering (DLS) size analysis (Zetasizer, Malvern, UK). In vitro drugrelease experiments for PEG-b-PLA micelles and related 2- or 3-drugcombinations are described in Example 3 above.

Results and Discussion.

Anti-cancer agents in preclinical development, e.g. 17-AAG, and many inclinical practice, e.g. paclitaxel, rapamycin, are poorly water-solubleand require safe vehicles for drug solubilization and intravenous (IV)infusion. However, vehicles for IV drug infusion are often toxic, e.g.CrEL, and hamper progress in therapy involving multiple poorlywater-soluble anti-cancer agents due to a risk of precipitation andadditive/synergistic toxicity caused by two or more vehicles for drugsolubilization, e.g. CrEL for paclitaxel in Taxol® and DMSO/lipid for17-AAG in recent clinical trials.

PEG-b-PLA assembles into micelles that solubilize paclitaxel, rapamycin,and 17-AAG at mg/mL levels without CrEL or co-solvents, e.g., DMSO/lipid(Table 4-1). Anti-cancer agents require mg/mL levels in aqueous vehiclesfor IV infusion for cancer therapy. The percent drug loading (wt/wt) forPEG-b-PLA micelles increases from 1 to 2- to 3-drug combinations withouta major change in particle size, noting a constant level of PEG-b-PLA inthis drug solubilization experiment.

TABLE 4-1 One-, 2-, and 3-drug solubilization by PEG-b-PLA micelles (n =3, mean ± SD). Drug level % Drug loading PEG-b-PLA Anticancer in water(wt drug(s)/ micelle diameter Agent (mg/mL) wt polymer) (nm ± SD)Paclitaxel 3.54 ± 0.32 10.3 ± 0.9 38.8 ± 0.6 Rapamycin 1.84 ± 0.26  6.6± 1.3 36.9 ± 1.3 17-AAG 3.90 ± 0.28 11.3 ± 0.3 39.3 ± 2.9 Paclitaxel +3.49 ± 0.14 22.6 ± 0.9 43.0 ± 2.4 Rapamycin 0.76 ± 0.31 Paclitaxel +3.92 ± 0.17 25.9 ± 1.6 38.9 ± 1.1 17-AAG 3.88 ± 0.29 Rapamycin + 1.83 ±0.25 22.6 ± 1.6 39.4 ± 1.9 17-AAG 4.02 ± 0.14 Paclitaxel + 3.36 ± 0.4640.2 ± 1.2 43.8 ± 1.3 Rapamycin + 2.05 ± 0.08 17-AAG 3.86 ± 0.46

As 2-drug combinations (paclitaxel/rapamycin, paclitaxel/17-AAG,rapamycin/17-AAG), PEG-b-PLA micelles have a percent drug loading atabout 20%. As a 3-drug combination of paclitaxel, rapamycin, and 17-AAG,PEG-b-PLA micelles have an inordinately high percent drug loading of 40%with a slight increase in size, about 44 nm, relative to empty PEG-b-PLAmicelles (38 nm). With respect to stability against drug precipitation,light scattering studies on PEG-b-PLA micelles show that the 2- and3-drug combinations are more stable in water than paclitaxel alone over24 hours, due to drug interaction in cores of PEG-b-PLA micelles.

The results for the in vitro release of 1-, 2-, and 3-drugs fromPEG-b-PLA micelles have been compiled in Table 4-2. Release of theanti-cancer agents from PEG-b-PLA micelles occurs over about one day,and it appears to correlate with the logarithm of the oil/waterpartition coefficient of anticancer agent (log P). Drug release for 2-and 3-drug combinations for PEG-b-PLA micelles mirrors the kinetics ofsingle anti-cancer agent release (Table 4-2 and FIG. 4). However,co-loaded rapamycin in PEG-b-PLA micelles slows the release ofpaclitaxel and 17-AAG, especially in the 3-drug combination. Thehalf-life (t_(1/2)) for paclitaxel and 17-AAG is 10.1 and 2.86 hours,respectively. In this case, rapamycin has a very long t_(1/2) of 18.6hours.

TABLE 4-2 1-, 2-, and 3-drug release from PEG-b-PLA micelles (n = 4,mean ± SD). Anticancer first-order rate agent constant (hr⁻¹) t_(1/2)(hr) log P Paclitaxel —* —* 3.0 Rapamycin 0.100 6.93 5.8 17-AAG 0.5251.32 1.3 Paclitaxel + 0.116 5.98 3.0 rapamycin 0.070 10.04 5.8Paclitaxel + 0.138 5.01 3.0 17-AAG 0.398 1.74 1.3 Rapamycin + 0.068 9.995.8 17-AAG 0.330 2.10 1.3 Paclitaxel + 0.068 10.13 3.0 Rapamycin + 0.03718.59 5.8 17-AAG 0.242 2.86 1.3 *Paclitaxel precipitates in the dialysisbag during drug release, preventing calculation of a first-orderconstant and t_(1/2).

While differences in drug release profiles emerge in vitro betweenanti-cancer agents for PEG-b-PLA micelles and between related 2- and3-drug combinations, these differences will be low in vivo due to thedestabilizing effect of serum proteins on the integrity of PEG-b-PLAmicelles, especially α- and β-globulins. As a result, in vivo drugrelease for PEG-b-PLA micelles will be rapid for 2- and 3-drugcombinations, minimizing risk for PK interactions due to drug entrapmentin micelles, which has been noted for CrEL and poorly water-solubleanti-cancer agents.

In summary, PEG-b-PLA micelles effectively solubilize combinations ofpaclitaxel, rapamycin, and 17-AAG for IV infusion without therequirement of CrEL or co-solvents, such as DMSO/lipid. In this Example,synergistic 2- and 3-drug combinations of paclitaxel, rapamycin, and17-AAG are easily obtained via PEG-b-PLA micelles. The unprecedented3-drug combination of paclitaxel, rapamycin, and 17-AAG will provideuseful solutions to current clinical problems in cancer therapy.

Example 5 Additional Data of Polymeric Micelles for Nano-CombinationDrug Delivery

The PEG-b-PLA drug-containing micelles can load and deliver the poorlywater soluble drugs paclitaxel, rapamycin, and 17-AAG, at clinicallyrelevant doses, as indicated by the data of Tables 5-1 to 5-5 and FIGS.3, and 5-9.

PEG-b-PLA in combination with certain hydrophobic drugs has significantsolubilizing and stabilizing properties. FIG. 5 illustrates data fromthe solubilization of paclitaxel, docetaxel, rapamycin, 17-AAG, and 2-or 3-combinations (chemo+17-AAG) by PEG-b-PLA micelles (4.2K:1.9K) inwater; n=3, Mean. Additional data for these micelle formulations isshown in Tables 5-1, 5-2, 5-3, and 5-4.

TABLE 5-1 Drug solubilization results for PEG-PLA micelles (n = 3, Mean± SD). drug level % drug loading PEG-b-PLA Anticancer in water (wt.drug(s)/ micelle diameter agent (mg/mL) wt. polymer) (nm ± SD) Rapamycin1.84 ± 0.26  6.6 ± 1.3 36.9 ± 1.3 Paclitaxel 3.54 ± 0.32 10.3 ± 0.9 38.8± 0.6 Docetaxel 4.27 ± 0.44 11.5 ± 0.5 37.3 ± 1.7 17-AAG 3.90 ± 0.2811.3 ± 0.3 39.3 ± 2.9 Paclitaxel 3.92 ± 0.17 25.9 ± 1.6 38.9 ± 1.117-AAG 3.88 ± 0.29 Docetaxel 4.62 ± 0.44 25.8 ± 2.2 39.0 ± 0.8 17-AAG4.01 ± 0.08

TABLE 5-2 Combination drug solubilization results for PEG-b- PLAmicelles (n = 3, Mean ± SD). drug level % drug loading PEG-b-PLAAnticancer in water (wt. drug(s)/ micelle diameter agent (mg/mL) wt.polymer) (nm ± SD) Rapamycin 1.06 ± 0.07 13.3 ± 0.3 41.0 ± 1.5Paclitaxel 3.59 ± 0.09 Rapamycin 2.43 ± 0.11 16.6 ± 1.0 38.1 ± 0.9Docetaxel 3.01 ± 0.26 Rapamycin 1.83 ± 0.25 22.6 ± 1.6 39.4 ± 1.9 17-AAG4.02 ± 0.14 Rapamycin 2.09 ± 0.08 40.4 ± 1.2 43.8 ± 1.3 Paclitaxel 3.36± 0.46 17-AAG 3.86 ± 0.46 Rapamycin 2.34 ± 0.19 33.3 ± 1.3 42.5 ± 1.3Docetaxel 2.71 ± 0.07 17-AAG 4.06 ± 0.17

TABLE 5-3 Drug loss from PEG-b-PLA micelles after 24 hours (reversephase-HPLC). Anticancer initial drug level drug level @ 24 hr % w/wdrug(s) agent in water (mg/mL) in water (mg/mL) left @ 24 hr Rapamycin1.84 ± 0.26 1.68 ± 0.23 91.5 ± 0.2 Paclitaxel 3.54 ± 0.32 0.57 ± 0.0716.2 ± 1.0 Docetaxel 4.27 ± 0.44 1.14 ± 0.03 26.8 ± 3.3 17-AAG 3.90 ±0.28 3.84 ± 0.18 98.6 ± 2.4 Paclitaxel 3.92 ± 0.17 3.86 ± 0.15 98.5 ±0.3 17-AAG 3.88 ± 0.29 3.77 ± 0.28 96.9 ± 0.2 Docetaxel 4.62 ± 0.44 4.45± 0.13 96.3 ± 1.8 17-AAG 4.01 ± 0.08 3.83 ± 0.17 95.5 ± 2.7

TABLE 5-4 Drug loss from PEG-b-PLA micelles after 24 hours (reversephase-HPLC). Anticancer initial drug level drug level @ 24 hr % w/wdrug(s) agent in water (mg/mL) in water (mg/mL) left @ 24 hr Rapamycin1.06 ± 0.07 1.02 ± 0.06 96.0 ± 0.4 Paclitaxel 3.59 ± 0.09 3.44 ± 0.0495.9 ± 2.0 Rapamycin 2.43 ± 0.11 2.28 ± 0.10 93.8 ± 0.8 Docetaxel 3.01 ±0.26 2.83 ± 0.24 94.0 ± 0.3 Rapamycin 1.83 ± 0.25 1.71 ± 0.29 93.0 ± 3.917-AAG 4.02 ± 0.14 3.77 ± 0.17 93.8 ± 4.1 Rapamycin 2.09 ± 0.11 2.05 ±0.08 97.8 ± 2.1 Paclitaxel 3.36 ± 0.46 3.29 ± 0.47 97.9 ± 2.3 17-AAG3.86 ± 0.36 3.74 ± 0.44 96.7 ± 2.5 Rapamycin 2.34 ± 0.19 2.32 ± 0.1799.5 ± 2.3 Docetaxel 2.71 ± 0.07 2.67 ± 0.03 98.6 ± 2.6 17-AAG 4.06 ±0.17 4.03 ± 0.25 99.3 ± 2.2

Parameters and data for in vitro drug release from PEG-b-PLA micelles(single agent, 2- or 3-drug combinations) are shown in Table 5-5 and inFIGS. 3 and 6-9. FIG. 6 illustrates data from the in vitro release ofpaclitaxel, docetaxel, rapamycin or 17-AAG from PEG-b-PLA micelles (12.5mM PBS, pH=7.4, 37° C.); (n=4, Mean±SD). The low release of paclitaxelis a result of the drug crashing out of the dialysis bag used inPreparatory Process C, used for preparing these micelles.

FIG. 3B illustrates data from the in vitro combination release ofpaclitaxel and 17-AAG from PEG-b-PLA micelles (12.5 mM PBS, pH=7.4, 37°C.; (n=4, Mean±SD). FIG. 7 illustrates data from the in vitrocombination release of rapamycin and 17-AAG from PEG-b-PLA micelles(12.5 mM PBS, pH=7.4, 37° C.; (n=4, Mean±SD). FIG. 8 illustrates datafrom the in vitro combination release of rapamycin, docetaxel & 17-AAGfrom PEG-b-PLA micelles (12.5 mM PBS, pH=7.4, 37° C.); (n=4, Mean±SD).FIG. 9 illustrates half life parameters (A) for in vitro rapamycinrelease; and (B) for in vitro 17-AAG release, from PEG-b-PLA micelles(single agent, 2- or 3-drug combinations). Calculated from X log Pver2.0 (http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm nih.gov/); curve-fitted with GraphicPrism v4.03.

TABLE 5-5 Parameters for in vitro drug release from PEG-b-PLA micelles(single agent, 2- or 3-drug combinations). Anticancer first-order rategoodness agent constant (hr⁻¹) t_(1/2) (hr) of fit (r²) log P ⁽¹⁾Paclitaxel — — — 3.0 17-AAG 0.525 1.32 0.999 1.3 Rapamycin 0.081 8.520.990 5.8 Paclitaxel 0.138 5.01 0.938 3.0 17-AAG 0.398 1.74 0.996 1.3Rapamycin 0.069 10.05 0.991 5.8 Paclitaxel 0.116 6.00 0.993 3.0Rapamycin 0.085 8.12 0.993 5.8 Docetaxel 0.317 2.19 0.999 2.4 Rapamycin0.079 8.73 0.983 5.8 17-AAG 0.385 1.80 0.999 1.3 Rapamycin 0.050 13.930.979 5.8 Paclitaxel 0.075 9.20 0.984 3.0 17-AAG 0.275 2.52 0.996 1.3Rapamycin 0.069 10.00 0.982 5.8 Docetaxel 0.306 2.26 0.993 2.4 17-AAG0.363 1.91 0.995 1.3 ⁽¹⁾ Calculated from XlogP ver2.0(http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/); curve-fit with Graphic Prism v4.03.

Conclusions.

PEG-b-PLA micelles solubilize paclitaxel, docetaxel, 17-AAG, orrapamycin at mg/mL levels in water. PEG-b-PLA micelles solubilize 2-drugcombinations (paclitaxel/17-AAG, paclitaxel/rapamycin, or17-AAG/rapamycin), reaching levels obtained for each single anti-canceragent alone in PEG-b-PLA micelles. PEG-b-PLA micelles solubilize a3-drug combination of paclitaxel, 17-AAG and rapamycin, reaching levelsobtained for each single anti-cancer agent alone in PEG-b-PLA micelles.The t_(1/2) values for the in vitro release of paclitaxel, 17-AAG andrapamycin from PEG-b-PLA micelles as 1-drug or 2- or 3-drug combinationsare on the scale of several hours, increasing with log P values.

Example 6 Polymer Micelles for Multiple Drug Delivery

Polymer micelles have attracted attention in drug delivery due to provensafety and rapid progress in drug solubilization, especially in thefield of cancer therapy. Poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(lactic acid)(PEG-b-PLA) micelles have entered phase II clinical trials in the USAand have gained approval in Korea as a vehicle for paclitaxel)(Genexol-PM®), offering a safer vehicle for this poorly water-solublecancer drug over Cremophor EL (Taxol®). Cremophor EL causes severetoxicities, including acute hypersensitivity reactions despitepre-medication (Sparreboom et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 2005, 23, 7765). Themaximum tolerated dose (MTD) of Genexol-PM® in a phase I clinical trialwas 300 mg/m², whereas the MTD for Taxol® is only 135 to 200 mg/m² (Kimet al., Clin. Cancer Res. 2004, 10, 3708).

17-AAG inhibits heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), which acts as a chaperonefor “client proteins,” many of which are involved in cancer-causing andsurvival pathways (Banerji, Clin. Cancer Res. 2009, 15, 9). Rapamycininhibits mTOR, a serine-threonine kinase, which plays a central role incell growth, proliferation, survival and angiogenesis (Lopiccolo et al.,Drug Resist. Updates 2008, 11, 32). Two-drug combinations ofpaclitaxel+17-AAG and paclitaxel+a slightly water soluble analogue ofrapamycin (CCI-779) are in clinical trials, but require Cremophor EL,DMSO/lipid and/or ethanol as vehicles for drug solubilization.

The example demonstrates that PEG-b-PLA micelles can encapsulate andthereby solubilize multiple cancer drugs in an aqueous solution. ThePEG-b-PLA micelles have been shown to effectively solubilize, forexample, paclitaxel, docetaxel, etoposide, rapamycin, and17-allylamino-17-desmethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG). The followingdisclosure describes methodology for the preparation of multiple drugloaded PEG-b-PLA micelles, cytotoxicity experiments, combination indexanalysis, as well as discussion of the results.

Reagents.

PEG-b-PLA (Mn of PEG and PLA were 4,200 and 1,900 g/mol, respectively;PDI=1.05) was purchased from Advanced Polymer Materials Inc. (Montreal,CAN). Paclitaxel was obtained from LKT Laboratories Inc. (St. Paul,Minn.). 17-AAG and rapamycin were purchased from LC Laboratories(Woburn, Mass.). All other reagents were obtained from Fisher ScientificInc. (Fairlawn, N.J.).

Preparation of Multiple Drug Loaded PEG-b-PLA Micelles.

Paclitaxel (2.0 mg), 17-AAG (2.0 mg), rapamycin (1.5 mg) and PEG-b-PLA(15 mg) were dissolved in acetonitrile (0.50 mL) in a round bottomflask, and the acetonitrile was removed by heating at 60° C. underreduced pressure via a rotary-evaporator. The resultant dry PEG-b-PLAfilm containing drugs was dissolved by the addition of water (0.50 mL)at 60° C. with gentle agitation. The aqueous solution of PEG-b-PLAmicelles filled with paclitaxel, 17-AAG and rapamycin was centrifuged,filtered (0.45 m) and subjected to reverse-phase HPLC (Shimadzu, JP) anddynamic light scattering analyses (Zetasizer, Malvern, UK). See FIG. 12.

In vitro Cytotoxicity Experiments.

MCF-7 human breast cancer cells were cultured in DMEM medium while 4T1murine breast cancer cells, A549 human non-small cell lung cancer cells,and LS180 human colon cancer cells were cultured in RPMI1640 medium.Both media were supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) withantibiotics under 5% CO₂ and 37° C. in an incubator. Cells (3−5×10³)were seeded into 96 well plates and incubated for 24 hours before drugexposure. Free drugs were dissolved in DMSO, and drug-loaded PEG-b-PLAmicelles were in deionized water. The samples were diluted with cellculture media to make 0.10, 1.0, 10, 100 and 1000 nM in 96 well plates.After incubation for 72 hours, cell culture media was replaced withfresh media, and 20 L of resazurin dye solution (AlamarBlue®,Invitrogen, USA) was added into the wells. The metabolic conversion ofresazurin dye by each viable cancer cell was quantified using afluorescence cell plate reader (SpectraMax M2, Molecular Devices, USA)to estimate cell viability. Growth inhibition curves for paclitaxel,17-AAG, rapamycin and their combinations were obtained by plotting thepercentage of viable cells against drug concentration. IC₅₀ values offree drugs and drug-loaded PEG-b-PLA micelles were calculated based onmedian-effect equation using Compusyn software (ver. 1.0).

Combination Index Analysis.

The combination index (CI) of 2- or 3-drug combinations was calculatedbased on Chou and Talalay method (Cancer Res; 70(2), 440-446; Jan. 15,2010) using Compusyn software (ver. 1.0). CI values were obtained atIC₅₀ values for 2- or 3-drug combinations. CI<1, C=1, and CI>1 were usedas criteria to determine whether 2- or 3-drug combinations aresynergistic, additive, and antagonistic, respectively (FIGS. 13-20).

Discussion.

PEG-b-PLA micelles have remarkable effects on the water solubility ofpaclitaxel, 17-AAG, rapamycin and their 2- and 3-drug combinations(Table 6-1). In each case, PEG-b-PLA micelles raise the water solubilityof paclitaxel, 17-AAG and rapamycin from about mg/L levels to mg/mLlevels, sufficient for cancer therapy. Remarkably, the individual druglevels when combined as 2- and 3-drug combinations minor the level ofeach drug incorporated alone in PEG-b-PLA micelles (Table 6-1). In otherwords, % drug loading (wt. drug/wt. polymer) increases from 1 to 2- to3-drug combinations without additional PEG-b-PLA, beyond the quantityused in single drug solubilization experiments. Thus, PEG-b-PLA micellescan be used to deliver a 3-drug combination of paclitaxel, 17-AAG andrapamycin at 3.36, 3.86 and 2.09 mg/mL, respectively, with only a slightincrease in particle size.

TABLE 6-1 Combinatorial drug solubilization by PEG-b-PLA micelles (n =3, mean ± SD). Drug level % drug loading PEG-b-PLA Anticancer in waterwt. drug(s)/ micelle dia. agent (mg/mL) wt. polymer (nm ± SD) Paclitaxel3.54 ± 0.32 10.3 ± 0.9 38.8 ± 0.6 17-AAG 3.90 ± 0.28 11.3 ± 0.3 39.3 ±2.9 Rapamycin 1.84 ± 0.26  6.6 ± 1.3 36.9 ± 1.3 Paclitaxel + 3.92 ± 0.1725.9 ± 1.6 38.9 ± 1.1 17-AAG 3.88 ± 0.29 Paclitaxel + 3.59 ± 0.09 13.3 ±0.3 41.0 ± 1.5 Rapamycin 1.06 ± 0.07 Paclitaxel + 3.36 ± 0.08 40.4 ± 1.243.8 ± 1.3 17-AAG + 3.86 ± 0.46 Rapamycin 2.09 ± 0.08

Additional characterization data for several micelle drug deliveryformulations is provided in Table 6-2 below.

TABLE 6-2 Combinatorial Drug Solubilization Results for PEG-b-PLAMicelles. drug level % drug loading PEG-b-PLA Anticancer in water (wt.drug(s)/ micelle diameter agent (mg/mL) wt. polymer) (nm ± SD) Rapamycin1.84 ± 0.26  6.6 ± 1.3 36.9 ± 1.3 Paclitaxel 3.54 ± 0.32 10.3 ± 0.9 38.8± 0.6 Docetaxel 4.27 ± 0.44 11.5 ± 0.5 37.3 ± 1.7 17-AAG 3.90 ± 0.2811.3 ± 0.3 39.3 ± 2.9 Paclitaxel 3.92 ± 0.17 25.9 ± 1.6 38.9 ± 1.117-AAG 3.88 ± 0.29 Docetaxel 4.62 ± 0.44 25.8 ± 2.2 39.0 ± 0.8 17-AAG4.01 ± 0.08 Rapamycin 1.06 ± 0.07 13.3 ± 0.3 41.0 ± 1.5 Paclitaxel 3.59± 0.09 Rapamycin 2.43 ± 0.11 16.6 ± 1.0 38.1 ± 0.9 Docetaxel 3.01 ± 0.26Rapamycin 1.83 ± 0.25 22.6 ± 1.6 39.4 ± 1.9 17-AAG 4.02 ± 0.14 Rapamycin2.09 ± 0.08 40.4 ± 1.2 43.8 ± 1.3 Paclitaxel 3.36 ± 0.46 17-AAG 3.86 ±0.46 Rapamycin 2.34 ± 0.19 33.3 ± 1.3 42.5 ± 1.3 Docetaxel 2.71 ± 0.0717-AAG 4.06 ± 0.17 (n = 3, mean ± SD)

This increase in loading capacity is a surprising result that isuncommon in the field of drug solubilization. Particularly noteworthy isthe 40% drug loading content for paclitaxel, 17-AAG and rapamycin inPEG-b-PLA micelles. Because PEG-b-PLA micelles have an excellent safetyprofile in humans, administration of 2- and 3-drug combinations ofpaclitaxel, 17-AAG and rapamycin via PEG-b-PLA micelles withoutCremophor EL, DMSO/lipid and/or ethanol as vehicles for drugsolubilization for multiple drug delivery by the intravenous route willbe a valuable advance in cancer therapy.

Two-drug combinations of paclitaxel+17-AAG and paclitaxel+rapamycin havebeen proven to exert synergistic cancer activity in cell culture and inbreast and lung murine tumor models, serving as a solid rationale forcurrent clinical trials (Solit et al., Cancer Res. 2003, 63, 2139;Mondesire et al., Clin. Cancer Res. 2004, 10, 7031). More recently, thecombination of 17-AAG+rapamycin has been proven to exert enhancedanti-proliferative activity in both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancercells (Roforth and Tan, Anti-Cancer Drugs 2008, 19, 681), owing to areduction in AKT activation and 17-AAG-induced suppression of themitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway (RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK). Itis believed that AKT activation due to mTOR inhibition by a negativefeedback loop is a major reason that mTOR inhibitors have not beensuccessful in clinical trials despite the central importance of thePI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in cancer (e.g., activated in 60-70% of lungcancers) (Garber, JNCI 2009, 101, 288).

In the work described herein, paclitaxel+17-AAG, paclitaxel+rapamycinand 17-AAG+rapamycin dissolved with polymeric micelles exert additive orsynergistic cancer activity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells, 4T1breast cancer cells, A549 non-small cell lung cancer, and LS180 coloncancer, according CI analysis (FIGS. 14, 16, 18, and 20, and Tables 6-4and 6-5). The 3-drug combination of paclitaxel, 17-AAG and rapamycin(5:1:1) has a very low IC₅₀ value of 114±10 nM versus 226±32 nM forpaclitaxel alone in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. This 3-drug combinationhas a CI of 0.49±0.04 at the IC₅₀, indicating synergy in MCF-7 breastcancer cells. CI of 3 drug combination of paclitaxel, 17-AAG, andrapamycin was 0.04±0.001, 0.21±0.03, and 0.33±0.02 for 4T1 cells, A549cells, and LS180 cells, respectively. It is noted that the PI3K/AKT/mTORand RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathways are aberrantly activated in manycancers, and there is evidence that they cooperate in promoting cancercell survival (Grant, J. Clin. Invest. 2008, 118, 3003). Thus, thesynergistic cytotoxicity of paclitaxel, 17-AAG and rapamycin possiblyreflects the co-targeting of complementary signaling pathways by 17-AAGand rapamycin, enhancing the cytotoxicity of paclitaxel against MCF-7breast cancer cells.

The cytotoxicity of paclitaxel, 17-AAG and rapamycin physicallyincorporated in PEG-b-PLA micelles is less than that of free drug(s) incell culture. Nonetheless, evidence for synergy of paclitaxel, 17-AAGand rapamycin, i.e. CI<1, is encouraging, especially for the 3-drugcombination. It is noted that while the IC₅₀ for paclitaxel as part ofPEG-b-PLA micelles (Genexol-PM®) is 226±32 nM, it exerts potentanticancer activity in murine tumor models and in clinical trials due toa higher MTD than Taxol® (Kim et al., Clin. Cancer Res. 2004, 10, 3708).

TABLE 6-3 IC₅₀ for paclitaxel, 17-AAG and rapamycin solubilized byPEG-b-PLA micelles (n = 3, mean ± SD). Drug(s) in molar SDM or MDM MCF-74T1 A549 ratio PTX 226 ± 32 11160 ± 4164 397 ± 59 N.A 17-AAG 266 ± 48118 ± 10  771 ± 163 N.A RAP 255 ± 37 >100000  590 ± 110 N.A PTX/17-AAG162 ± 17  92 ± 19 187 ± 25 3.2:1 (4.7:1)¹ RAP/17-AAG 177 ± 3  147 ± 11222 ± 20 1:1 RAP/PTX 167 ± 6   4031 ± 3612 400 ± 37 1:1 RAP/PTX/ 114 ±10 25 ± 1  94 ± 17  1:5:1 17-AAG ¹A 3.2:1 molar ratio of PTX & 17-AAGwas used for MCF-7 cells, and a 4.7:1 molar ratio of PTX & 17-AAG wasused for both 4T1 and A549 cells.

TABLE 6-4 CI of MDM in an MCF7 breast cancer cell line, a 4T1 murinebreast cancer cell line an A549 lung cancer cell line, and an LS180colon cancer cell line. Drug(s) in MDM Molar ratio MCF-7 4T1 A549 LS180PTX/17-AAG 3.2:1 (4.7:1) 0.69 ± 0.07 0.14 ± 0.03 0.43 ± 0.06 1.44 ± 0.09RAP/17-AAG 1:1 0.68 ± 0.01 0.62 ± 0.05 0.33 ± 0.03 0.88 ± 0.20 RAP/PTX1:1 0.69 ± 0.02 0.19 ± 0.17 0.84 ± 0.08 0.04 ± 0.01 RAP/PTX/17-AAG 1:5:10.49 ± 0.04  0.04 ± 0.001 0.21 ± 0.03 0.33 ± 0.02

Recent Förster energy transfer experiments on PEG-b-PLA micelles suggestthat they disassemble readily in blood after intravenous injection dueto the action of serum proteins, resulting in drug release (Chen et al.,Langmuir 2008, 24, 5213). Thus, it is expected that PEG-b-PLA micellesfilled with paclitaxel, 17-AAG and rapamycin will disassemble readily inblood, resulting in minor changes in the pharmacokinetics of paclitaxel,17-AAG and rapamycin. However, the higher MTD of paclitaxel, 17-AAG andrapamycin enabled by PEG-b-PLA micelles over Cremophor EL, DMSO/lipidand/or ethanol will provide higher tumor accumulation of cancer drugsand greater antitumor efficacy.

In vitro release profiles of drug(s) from SDM and MDM.

The release profile of PTX, DCTX, rapamycin and 17-AAG from PEG-b-PLAmicelles was evaluated by a dialysis method. SDMs or MDMs were preparedand characterized as described above. Post-micelle preparation, eachsample was diluted with DD H₂O, to yield samples of about 0.10 mg/mL ofeach drug. A volume of 2.5 mL of the prepared sample was loaded into a 3mL Slide-A-Lyzer® (Thermo Scientific Inc.) dialysis cassette with a MWCOof 20,000 g/mol. Four cassettes were used in each experiment. Thecassettes were placed in 2.0 L of buffer which was changed every 3 hoursto ensure sink conditions for drug(s) and polymer. A sample of 100 μLwas drawn from each cassette at various sampling time intervals and thenreplaced with 100 μL of fresh buffer. The sampling time intervals were0, 0.5, 2, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 hours. The amount of drug(s) in eachsample was quantified by reverse phase HPLC.

FIGS. 3-4 and 6-8 illustrate the results of the in vitro drug releasefrom PEG-b-PLA micelles as a single agent, and 2- and 3-drugcombinations (12.5 mM PBS, pH=7.4, 37° C.). The figures show the releaseprofiles of paclitaxel, rapamycin, and 17-AAG as single drugs or as 2-or 3-drug combinations, co-incorporated in PEG-b-PLA micelles. Rapamycinhad the slowest release, followed by paclitaxel, docetaxel, and then17-AAG (paclitaxel release as a single agent was incomplete due to drugprecipitation). The release profiles of multiple-drug loaded PEG-b-PLAmicelles were quite similar to the release profiles for the individualanticancer agents released by PEG-b-PLA micelles, and they correspondedwell to their oil-in-water partition coefficients: logP values increasedalong with half-lives of drug release for PEG-b-PLA micelles (Table6-5).

TABLE 6-5 Parameters for In Vitro Drug Release from PEG-b-PLA Micelles(Single Agent, 2- or 3-Drug Combinations). Anticancer first-order rategoodness agent constant (hr⁻¹) t_(1/2) (hr) of fit (r²) log P ⁽¹⁾Paclitaxel — — — 3.0 17-AAG 0.525 1.32 0.999 1.3 Rapamycin 0.081 8.520.990 5.8 Paclitaxel 0.138 5.01 0.938 3.0 17-AAG 0.398 1.74 0.996 1.3Rapamycin 0.069 10.05 0.991 5.8 Paclitaxel 0.116 6.00 0.993 3.0Rapamycin 0.085 8.12 0.993 5.8 Docetaxel 0.317 2.19 0.999 2.4 Rapamycin0.079 8.73 0.983 5.8 17-AAG 0.385 1.80 0.999 1.3 Rapamycin 0.050 13.930.979 5.8 Paclitaxel 0.075 9.20 0.984 3.0 17-AAG 0.275 2.52 0.996 1.3Rapamycin 0.069 10.00 0.982 5.8 Docetaxel 0.306 2.26 0.993 2.4 17-AAG0.363 1.91 0.995 1.3 ⁽¹⁾ Calculated from XlogP ver2.0.(http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/). (Curve-fit with Graphic Prismv4.03).

Half-lives of drug release for PEG-b-PLA micelles were 1 to 14 hours,pointing to some degree of sustained release. However, in vivo, it isexpected that the PEG-b-PLA micelles will dissociate due to the actionof alpha- and beta-globulins and dilution beneath the CMC, resulting indrug release due to micelle dissociation as a possible alternativemechanism of drug release. In this situation, it is expected thatPEG-b-PLA micelles will not have a major impact on the PK of paclitaxel,docetaxel, rapamycin, and 17-AAG co-incorporated in PEG-b-PLA micelles.PK experiments in rodent models will be conducted to validate thismodel.

The drug combinations also gave favorable acute toxicity results in micebased on changes in body weight and death (FIGS. 21-22). The three-drugcombination of paclitaxel, 17-AAG, and rapamycin afforded excellentanti-tumor efficacy results in A549 non-small cell lung cancer xenograftmodel. These results indicate that the three-drug combination hasrelatively low toxicity in mice and potent anti-tumor efficacy in theA540 xenograft model.

Briefly, acute toxicity experiments were carried out in FVB femalealbino mice with 3 IV injections on days 0, 4, and 8, measuring bodyweights and monitoring survival over 12 days (FIG. 21). Notsurprisingly, the acute toxicity of paclitaxel-loaded PEG-b-PLA micelleswas low at a dose of 60 mg/kg (MTD for Genexol-PM®). The addition of17-AAG or rapamycin to paclitaxel (60 mg/kg) in PEG-b-PLA micelles(2-drug combinations) did not result in significant changes in acutetoxicity at 60 or 30 mg/kg, respectively (100% survival and <15% changein body weight). Surprisingly, a 3-drug combination of paclitaxel,17-AAG, and rapamycin solubilized by PEG-b-PLA micelles (nPAR) could beinjected safely into mice at 60, 60, and 30 mg/kg. Thus, combinationtreatment experiments in human tumor xenografts could be initiatedwithout a reduction in the dose of paclitaxel. For a paclitaxelformulation with CrEL and ethanol, doses greater than 12 mg/kg ofpaclitaxel resulted in acute toxicity, which hampered dose escalationanalysis using the CrEL/Ethanol formulation.

An antitumor efficacy study was done in an A549 non-small cell lungxenograft model (see FIG. 22). 5×10⁶ A549 cells were injectedsubcutaneously in the flank region of 6-week-old female athymic mice.After about 2 weeks, tumors were palpable (200 mm³), and the 3-drugcombination of paclitaxel, 17-AAG, and rapamycin (nPAR) (60:60:30 mg/kg)was injected via the tail vein on days 0, 4, and 8 (arrows in FIG. 22).Tumor volumes were measured with calipers. The 3-drug combination ofpaclitaxel, 17-AAG, and rapamycin solubilized by PEG-b-PLA micelles hadpotent antitumor activity, with tumor shrinkage over 28 days after just3 injections, whereas the volumes of tumors of control mice increased,especially over days 14-26. There was <10% change in body weight in themice and no deaths.

Further illustrating the advantages of the drug combination that can besolubilized by the micelles described herein, FIGS. 10, 11 and 23 showin vitro free drug cytotoxicity results of several two- and three-drugcombinations. FIG. 23 illustrates the in vitro free drug cytotoxicityresults of rapamycin, paclitaxel and 17-AAG against MCF-7 breast cancercell line using the resazurin assay. The data indicate that thethree-drug combination of rapamycin, paclitaxel and 17-AAG issignificantly more effective than any of the drugs alone, or any of thetwo-drug combinations. When a 5:1:1 ratio of rapamycin, paclitaxel and17-AAG is used, the IC₅₀ value is further reduced by over 50%, furtherdemonstrating the highly effective nature of this drug combination.

FIG. 10 illustrates the in vitro free drug cytotoxicity results ofrapamycin, docetaxel and 17-AAG against MCF-7 breast cancer cell lineusing the resazurin assay. The two-drug combination of rapamycin anddocetaxel, and the three-drug combination of rapamycin, docetaxel and17-AAG show significantly lower IC₅₀ values than any single drug.

FIG. 11 illustrates the in vitro free drug cytotoxicity results ofrapamycin, paclitaxel and 17-AAG against SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cell lineusing resazurin assay. Again, the data indicate that the three-drugcombination of rapamycin, paclitaxel and 17-AAG is more effective thanany of the drugs alone. Thus, in vitro cytotoxicity results in twodifferent cell lines indicate that the three-drug combination ofpaclitaxel, 17-AAG, and rapamycin is synergistic (lung and breastcancers).

In summary, PEG-b-PLA micelles offer a simple, safe, soluble and sterileoption for a multiple drug delivery of paclitaxel, 17-AAG and rapamycin,with synergy in cancer therapy. Surprisingly, PEG-b-PLA micelles act asnano-containers for multiple poorly water-soluble cancer agents, gainingsufficient water solubility for in vivo studies. Two- and 3-drugcombinations of paclitaxel, 17-AAG and rapamycin exert synergisticcytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells, providing strongindications for efficacy experiments in murine tumor models. In apreliminary experiment, PEG-b-PLA micelles filled with paclitaxel,17-AAG and rapamycin have been injected into FVB albino mice at 60, 60and 30 mg/kg, respectively (days 0, 4, 8), with less than 10% change inbody weight and no deaths. The MTD of Genexol-PM® and Taxol® in nudemice is 60 and 20 mg/kg, respectively, on an identical schedule (Kim etal., J. Controlled Release 2001, 72, 191). A rapid translation of 2- or3-drug combinations of paclitaxel, 17-AAG and rapamycin into clinicaltrials is anticipated. Achievement of a favorable toxicity profile andhigh tumor efficacy for paclitaxel, 17-AAG and rapamycin via PEG-b-PLAmicelles in murine tumor models is expected, given the clinical progressfor Genexol-PM®.

PEG-b-PLA micelles have been approved for parenteral use of paclitaxelin humans in South Korea and are in phase II clinical trials in the USAas an alternative to Cremophor EL® and Abraxane®. The PEG-b-PLA micellesdescribed herein uniquely solubilize 2- and 3-drug combinations ofpaclitaxel, 17-AAG, and rapamycin (PAR). PEG-b-PLA micelles with PARexert synergistic anti-cancer activity against MCF-7 and 4T1 breastcancer and A549 non-small cell lung cancer cells. PEG-b-PLA micellescontaining PAR can be dosed at 60, 60, and 30 mg/kg in mice on days 0,4, and 8. PEG-b-PLA micelles with PAR dosed at 60, 60, and 30 mg/kg ondays 0, 4, and 8 induce tumor regression in an A549 NSCLC xenograftmodel. Accordingly, the compositions described herein provide simple andsafe methods for solubilizing numerous anti-cancer drugs that act in asynergistic manner to provide new treatments for a variety of cancers.

Example 7 Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms

The following formulations illustrate representative pharmaceuticaldosage forms that may be used for the therapeutic administration of amicellar formulation described herein (hereinafter referred to as‘Composition X’):

(i) Injection 1 (1 mg/mL) mg/mL ‘Composition X’ 1.0 Dibasic sodiumphosphate 12.0 Monobasic sodium phosphate 0.7 Sodium chloride 4.5 1.0NSodium hydroxide solution q.s. (pH adjustment to 7.0-7.5) Water forinjection q.s. ad 1 mL

(ii) Injection 2 (10 mg/mL) mg/mL ‘Composition X’ 10.0 Monobasic sodiumphosphate 0.3 Dibasic sodium phosphate 1.1 Polyethylene glycol 400 200.001N Sodium hydroxide solution q.s. (pH adjustment to 7.0-7.5) Water forinjection q.s. ad 1 mL

(iii) Aerosol mg/can ‘Composition X’ 20 Oleic acid 10Trichloromonofluoromethane 5,000 Dichlorodifluoromethane 10,000Dichlorotetrafluoroethane 5,000

These formulations may be prepared by conventional procedures well knownin the pharmaceutical art. It will be appreciated that the abovepharmaceutical compositions may be varied according to well-knownpharmaceutical techniques to accommodate differing amounts and types ofactive ingredient ‘Composition X’. Aerosol formulation (iii) may be usedin conjunction with a standard, metered dose aerosol dispenser.Additionally, the specific ingredients and proportions are forillustrative purposes. Ingredients may be exchanged for suitableequivalents and proportions may be varied, according to the desiredproperties of the dosage form of interest.

All publications, patents, and patent documents are incorporated byreference herein, as though individually incorporated by reference.While specific embodiments have been described above with reference tothe disclosed embodiments and examples, these embodiments and examplesare only illustrative and do not limit the scope of the invention.Changes and modifications can be made in accordance with ordinary skillin the art without departing from the invention in its broader aspectsas defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A composition comprising micelles encapsulatingthree drugs, wherein the three drugs are non-covalently encapsulated inthe interior of the micelles; the micelles comprise poly(ethyleneglycol)-block-poly(lactic acid) polymers where the hydrophobicpoly(lactic acid) block of the polymers orient toward the interior ofeach micelle, and the hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) block of thepolymers orient toward the exterior of each micelle; a first drug of thethree drugs encapsulated in the micelles is 17-AAG or 17-DMAG; a seconddrug of the three drugs encapsulated in the micelles is paclitaxel ordocetaxel; and a third drug of the three drugs encapsulated in themicelles is rapamycin, deforolimus, temsirolimus, everolimus, etoposide,or teniposide.
 2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the drug loading ofthe micelles is about 1 wt. % to about 50 wt. % with respect to the massof the micelles.
 3. The composition of claim 2 wherein the drug loadingin the micelles is about 10 wt. % to about 40 wt. %.
 4. The compositionof claim 3 further comprising an aqueous vehicle, wherein theconcentration of the drugs is about 0.6 mg/mL to about 40 mg/mL, withrespect to the volume of the aqueous vehicle.
 5. The composition ofclaim 3 wherein the encapsulated drugs have an aqueous solubility ofabout 1 mg/mL to about 20 mg/mL when contacted with an aqueousenvironment.
 6. The composition of claim 3 wherein the composition issubstantially free of ethanol, dimethyl sulfoxide, castor oil, andcastor oil derivatives.
 7. The composition of claim 6 wherein thecomposition comprises less than about 2 wt. % of ethanol, dimethylsulfoxide, castor oil, and castor oil derivatives.
 8. The composition ofclaim 7 wherein the molecular weight of the poly(ethylene glycol) blockis about 1,000 to about 35,000 g/mol and the molecular weight of thepoly(lactic acid) block is about 1,000 to about 15,000 g/mol.
 9. Thecomposition of claim 8 wherein the molecular weight of the poly(ethyleneglycol) block is about 1,500 to about 14,000 g/mol, the molecular weightof the poly(lactic acid) block is about 1,500 to about 7,000 g/mol. 10.The composition of claim 9 wherein the average diameter of the micellesis about 30 nm to about 50 nm.
 11. The composition of claim 10 whereineach of the drugs are incorporated together into individual PEG-PLAmicelles.
 12. The composition of claim 10 wherein the each drug isincorporated separately into PEG-PLA micelles and the micelles arecombined in a single aqueous vehicle.
 13. A composition for the delayedrelease of a three drug combination comprising a composition of claim 10and an aqueous carrier, wherein less than 50 wt. % of the drugs arereleased from the micelles after exposure to an aqueous environment orto the body fluid of a mammal for about two hours.
 14. A pharmaceuticalcomposition comprising the composition of claim 10 and an aqueouscarrier, wherein the composition is formulated for intravenous orintraperitoneal administration and the aqueous carrier comprises salineor an aqueous carbohydrate solution.
 15. A method of inhibiting orkilling cancer cells comprising contacting the cells with an effectiveinhibitory or lethal amount of a composition of claim
 1. 16. The methodof claim 15 wherein the contacting is in vivo.
 17. The method of claim15 wherein the contacting is in vitro.
 18. The method of claim 15wherein the cancer cells are brain tumor cells, breast cancer cells,colon cancer cells, head and neck cancer cells, lung cancer cells,lymphoma cells, melanoma cells, neuroblastoma cells, ovarian cancercells, pancreatic cancer cells, prostate cancer cells, or leukemiacells.
 19. The method of claim 15 wherein the cancer cells are breastcancer cells.
 20. The method of claim 15 wherein the cancer cells arelung cancer cells.
 21. A composition comprising micelles encapsulatingthree drugs, wherein the micelles are poly(ethyleneglycol)-block-poly(lactic acid) polymers; the hydrophobic poly(lacticacid) block of the polymers orient toward the interior of each micelle,and the hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) block of the polymers orienttoward the exterior of each micelle; a first drug of the three drugsencapsulated in the micelles is 17-AAG or 17-DMAG; a second drug of thethree drugs encapsulated in the micelles is paclitaxel; a third drug ofthe three drugs encapsulated in the micelles is rapamycin, deforolimus,temsirolimus, everolimus, etoposide, or teniposide; the drug loading ofthe micelles is about 5 wt. % to about 50 wt. % with respect to the massof the micelles; and the composition comprises less than about 2 wt. %of ethanol, dimethyl sulfoxide, castor oil, and castor oil derivatives.22. A composition comprising micelles encapsulating three drugs, whereinthe micelles are poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(lactic acid) polymers;the hydrophobic poly(lactic acid) block of the polymers orient towardthe interior of each micelle, and the hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol)block of the polymers orient toward the exterior of each micelle; afirst drug of the three drugs encapsulated in the micelles is 17-AAG or17-DMAG; a second drug of the three drugs encapsulated in the micellesis docetaxel; a third drug of the three drugs encapsulated in themicelles is rapamycin, deforolimus, temsirolimus, everolimus, etoposide,or teniposide; the drug loading of the micelles is about 5 wt. % toabout 50 wt. % with respect to the mass of the micelles; and thecomposition comprises less than about 2 wt. % of ethanol, dimethylsulfoxide, castor oil, and castor oil derivatives.